Center Table

Art Historical Context

Created around 1820 by Austrian craftsman Josef Ulrich Danhauser, this Center Table stands as a fine example of early nineteenth-century European furniture. Made from warm cherrywood accented with metal, its balanced proportions—roughly 30 by 50 by 29 inches—were designed to anchor a room while offering both surface space and visual appeal. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago’s Applied Arts of Europe department, the table reflects the era’s focus on refined domestic objects that blended utility with understated elegance. Danhauser’s careful selection of wood grain and metal details demonst...