The Modern Style of Cabinet Work Exemplified
1832
Medium
Illustrations: etching and engraving
Dimensions
10 13/16 × 7 7/8 × 1 9/16 in. (27.5 × 20 × 4 cm)
Classification
Books
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Museum Accession, transferred from the Library
Accession Number
1972.638.3
Tags
Art Historical Context
Thomas King’s *The Modern Style of Cabinet Work Exemplified* (1832) a practical design manual that captures the refined tastes of early nineteenth-century Britain. Published as a book of patterns for furniture makers, it showcases contemporary cabinetry through precise illustrations of chairs,, and case pieces adorned with delicate flowers and scrolling leaves. These motifs reflect the period’s preference for elegant, nature-inspired ornament that softened the geometric lines of neoclassical forms. Printed using etching and engraving, the illustrations allowed for fine detail and repeatable a...