IAR 222 Artifact Study: 20th Century Dressing Table

History of the Dressing Table:
Originating in 17th century France, the dressing table evolved from a small table that housed grooming items into a specialized piece of furniture that remained popular for nearly 300 years. The need for such a piece was created by the cosmetic items women wrapped in a small cloth (which the French called a "toilette") and placed on a dresser or table. An increase in prosperity for the middle classes as a result of the Industrial Revolution brought about a desire to imitate the styles of nobility. One of these emerging aspects was an improvement in grooming for both men and women. Apart from a bed and storage piece for clothes, the most desired piece of furniture for a bedroom during the 18th and 19th centuries was a dressing table. Having a beautifully crafted place for one's brushes, powders, perfumes and trinkets was not only a statement of economic status, but an exhibition and emphasis on vanity.

Components and commonalities among various tables:
Most dressing tables (of all generations) are made of wood; crafting with wood allows for greater variation in the color, texture, and finish of a piece. Wood is also a well suited material for the mechanics of a dresser or table, since drawers and openings can be easily integrated and shaped to the cabinet maker's specifications. The addition of a mirror, often able to be tilted or to swivel, aids in practicality of the furniture's main function, to help one dress. Exotic woods and stone were often employed to embellish the vanity's aesthetic.

Ruhlmann's contribution:
Emile Jacques Ruhlmann (b.1879, d.1933) designed an exquisite Art Deco dressing table in Paris, c. 1919-1923. This table follows many of the forms seen in 19th century tables. Made of oak, it has several exotic hardwoods incorporated as well: Andaman padouk, purpleheart, and mahogany. The tabletop has an ebony and ivory inlay that Ruhlmann intentionally placed to mimic the toilette or linen cloth that the trinkets would be laid upon. A striking contrast to the deep rich wood tones, the ebony slab adds a sleek, rectilinear detail that emphasizes the horizontal surface. The fluted cistern-like support seems to suggest a nod to classicism, and it's cylindrical form relates effortlessly to the round mirror above it. Equally thoughtful in detail are the silvered bronze fittings and mirror frame that echo the silver luster of the mirror. Suited for use by either gender, this dressing table is an exquisitely refined example of artistry in furniture making.

Resources:
The Victoria and Albert Museum
http://collections.vam.ac.uk/objectid/O70933

Dressing Tables.com
http://dressingtables.com/

The Rise and Demise of the Dressing Table
http://www.desksofdistinction.com.au/Garry%27s%20Articles/DressingTablesArticle.pdf