Girandole à Plateau, Table de Nuit, Pupitre à Tiroirs
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-331-92
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Girandole à Plateau, Table Nuit, Pupitre à Tiroirs** is a captivating print by Richard de Lalonde, a artist active from 1780 to 1796. Created between 1775 and 1788, this work captures the elegance of late 18th-century French decorative design during the Louis XVI period, just before the French Revolution. As a print in the Smithsonian American Art Museum collection—purchased by the Advisory Council—it offers a window into the refined world of neoclassical furnishings. The title reveals its subjects: a *girandole à plateau* (a mirrored wall sconce with a tray), a *table de nuit* (nightstand), and a *pupitre à tiroirs* (a sloped writing desk with drawers). These intricate designs showcase Lalonde's skill in rendering functional yet ornate furniture, likely intended for affluent homes. Prints like this were essential tools, disseminating sophisticated motifs to cabinetmakers and artisans across Europe. Though research on this piece is ongoing, its presence in an American museum highlights the transatlantic influence of French style on early U.S. decorative arts. Visitors can appreciate how such engravings bridged craftsmanship and culture, blending utility with opulent symmetry. (198 words)