Design for a Pier Table 1800 - 1850

This is a design for a pier table, rendered in pencil on paper by an anonymous artist. Though it's just a drawing, it gives us insight into the world of furniture production. The pier table itself, designed to sit against a wall beneath a mirror, was a symbol of wealth in its time. The drawing shows us the envisioned final product, with the table's ornate carvings and elegant form. But it also hints at the many hands involved in bringing such a design to life. Skilled cabinetmakers, carvers, and finishers would have been needed to transform this two-dimensional design into a physical object. Consider, too, that the drawing itself is a kind of labor. The careful lines and attention to detail suggest the skill of the draughtsman, who may have been employed by a furniture workshop or working independently to sell designs. So, next time you see a beautifully crafted piece of furniture, remember that it represents not just a single artist's vision, but a whole network of makers and the social hierarchies of production.