Two Sofa Designs

About this artwork

Research in Progress

Art Historical Context

Two Sofa Designs is a print attributed to Radel, a German designer active from 1760 to 1770, though the work itself dates to 1849–66. Held in the Smithsonian American Art Museum and acquired through purchase by the Advisory Council, it depicts two sofa concepts and is classified as a print of unknown medium. This combination of an 18th-century designer with a 19th-century print highlights how earlier ideas were later reproduced and shared. Printed furniture designs served as important tools for spreading styles among craftsmen and patrons in Europe. Radel’s sofas, created during his period of activity, illustrate the decorative arts of that time, while their later printing shows continued interest in those forms decades afterward. Such works document the evolution of interior furnishings and the role of printmaking in preserving design history. Currently noted as research in progress, the piece invites viewers to explore its origins and Radel’s contributions. It enriches museum collections by connecting 18th-century German design with later appreciation, offering insight into furniture as both practical objects and artistic expressions.