Winter
Wendell Castle
(American, 1932 – 2018)
1989
Medium/TechniqueMahogany, curly maple, tulipwood, oak, cue balls
Dimensions36 x 60 x 22"
Credit LineGift of Carolyn J. and Robert C. Springborn
Accession number2011.2133
On View
Not on viewClassificationsFurniture
Collections
This console table showcases Castle’s interest in three-dimensional trompe l’oeil, a French term which means “to fool the eye.” At first it may seem like someone has carelessly left a drawer open, allowing the interior contents—here, a length of white fabric—to spill out. However the entire work is actually made from wood, including the errant drapery. Its elegant, semicircular curve contrasts with the sharper geometry of the table top and legs, creating a further sense of contrast and interruption.
ProvenanceThe artist to Peter Joseph Gallery, New York; 1992, sold by Peter Joseph Gallery to Carolyn and Robert Springborn, C.A.; 2011, year-end gift of Carolyn and Robert Springborn to the MFA. (Accession Date: January 25, 2012)
Copyright© Wendell Castle, Inc.
1795–1810