8: Suites of Furniture

Drawing bureau

Second half of the 19th century

Russia

172x81x49 cm

Carved, gilded and tooled wood

It is hard to imagine this magnificent object entirely covered with gilding and decorated with carved and tooled rocaille ornament as part of the furniture in a businesswoman's study. Nevertheless concealed behind the side door of the lower body of the bureau are sections for the storage of large folders and drawings. One is forced to recall that the late 19th century was marked by the appearance of a host of different courses, circles and small workshops in which women studied with dedicated determination the basics of architecture, the history of art and various crafts. On occasion they even took up woodwork, showing a particular preference for marquetry. By the turn of the century craft exhibitions of various kinds were being regularly held in which the participants were only women.