Alexander Roux (American, born France, 1813–1886 (active New York, 1836–1880)). <em>Sideboard</em>, ca. 1855. Black walnut, 49 x 49 x 24 in. (124.5 x 124.5 x 61.0 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Benno Bordiga, by exchange, 1995.15. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1995.15_SL1.jpg)

Alexander Roux (American, born France, 1813–1886 (active New York, 1836–1880)). Sideboard, ca. 1855. Black walnut, 49 x 49 x 24 in. (124.5 x 124.5 x 61.0 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Benno Bordiga, by exchange, 1995.15. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1995.15_SL1.jpg)

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What is a sideboard used for?

It was used to store dishes for table service. The dining room first made its appearance in aristocratic houses at the end of the 18th century and became increasingly common in the 19th century. These new dining rooms, with their specific purpose (rather than all-in-one, multi-purpose rooms) required the invention of new furniture forms. One was the sideboard, which was used to store and display dining accessories and as a flat surface for the serving of food.

Is there any significance to the dogs in this piece of furniture?

The theme for this sideboard by Alexander Roux is hunting as well as the abundance of nature and man's command over nature. The dogs are actually somewhat uncommon and don't often appear in this manner.

It was an older motif from the Roman era that furniture makers revived in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It is likely that Roux was inspired by both Roman models and the models from his European contemporaries. I think they fit into the overall hunting motif fairly well!

Very cool! Thanks!

Would sideboards like this be modeled after the owner's dogs and favorite things to hunt?

While I would imagine there were some custom sideboards that did include such personalized details, this particular piece was not designed with a specific customer in mind. The dogs here are generic hunting dogs.

Instead, Alexander Roux included these full sized dogs as a nod to Ancient Roman furniture and contemporary European models, which demonstrated similar elements.

Oh thank you, that's very interesting!

This is such an elaborate piece of furniture!

Yes! It is as much a work of art as a piece of furniture! Sideboards (or "buffets") provided a theatrical backdrop for dining rooms in the middle of the 19th century. During meals, bottles of wine, platters of meat and bowls of vegetables would be placed upon them. These foods appear as carvings: the hunting dogs at the base have helped to capture the rabbits and game birds displayed as trophies. The theme of the iconography is man's command over nature.

I would like to know more about this piece.

This sideboard was used to display dishes and as a serving table in a dining room. The plants and animals carved in wood suggest the abundance of nature and man's command of it. Some of these items, such as the hare and grapes, might have appeared in the dishes being served to diners!

Sideboard

Decorative Arts and Design

The dining room and accompanying furniture first appeared in aristocratic houses at the end of the eighteenth century. Dining rooms were furnished with a set consisting of table, chairs, and sideboards. The sideboard was often decorated with imagery related to its function.

This sideboard incorporates two hound dogs as front supports, a hare against the lower backboard, and a cricket nestled in the center of the carved vine on the front apron. The dead game animals illusionistically tied up at the crest sound a somewhat more sinister note.

MAKER Alexander Roux, American, born France, 1813–1886 (active New York, 1836–1880)

MEDIUM Black walnut

Place Manufactured: New York, New York, United States

DATES ca. 1855

DIMENSIONS 49 x 49 x 24 in. (124.5 x 124.5 x 61.0 cm) (show scale)

MARKINGS Unmarked

COLLECTIONS Decorative Arts and Design

ACCESSION NUMBER 1995.15

CREDIT LINE Gift of Benno Bordiga, by exchange

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Sideboard. American black walnut (Juglans nigra). Rectangular form, lower shelf raised on bracketed feet with scalloped, scrolled apron. Incised horizontal panels on sides. Paired, fully carved, seated male hunting dogs at either end support upper serving top with scrolling apron framed and decorated with carved branches with central knot of twigs and leaves with large insect at center; side aprons with similar carving supported by scrolled volutes against backboard. Backboard with fully carved bust of hare facing proper right framed with and flanked by vines and leaves. Quarter round leaf molding to top. Symmetrical, segmental pedimented splash board with elaborate carved vines and grapes with centered hanging dead hare, to proper right, and squirrel, to proper left. Condition: Very good. Flat surfaces faded and scratches, remainder of carved surfaces seemingly in original condition.

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Alexander Roux (American, born France, 1813–1886 (active New York, 1836–1880)). Sideboard, ca. 1855. Black walnut, 49 x 49 x 24 in. (124.5 x 124.5 x 61.0 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Benno Bordiga, by exchange, 1995.15. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1995.15_SL1.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 1995.15_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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