Deco, from desk to dial

The V&A dates the table to about 1925 in Paris; SFO Museum records the Minuette, made in San Francisco in 1932. 📍

The table’s stepped top and three front drawers set a clear rhythm; the Minuette’s single-dial tuning made radio use easier. 🔎

The table pairs mahogany and Macassar ebony veneer with a gilt-tooled calf-leather top, now a modern replacement. The radio lists wood, brass, Bakelite, plastic and fabric.

The V&A says the costly ebony veneer put the table within reach only of the wealthiest. SFO links mass production to more affordable radios and low-cost Depression-era entertainment.

One Deco period, two markets: costly furniture craft and a radio made more affordable through streamlined production. These records show a comparison, not a documented line of influence. ✨