Black History Month: Mahogany

This October we celebrate Black History Month through the stories, voices, and histories connected to our collection.

Many objects in the Wallace Collection carry hidden histories connected to the transatlantic slave trade. Join curator Alexander Collins for a 15-minute talk exploring an elegant 18th-century roll-top desk attributed to the celebrated French cabinet-maker Jean-Henri Riesener, renowned for his work for Marie-Antoinette. Discover how its luxurious mahogany veneer reflects global networks of trade, wealth, and exploitation that underpinned 18th-century luxury consumption.

Places are limited and allocated first-come, first-served on the day.