FIRST HALF 19TH CENTURY, CEYLON

細節

AN ANGLO-INDIAN IVORY-INLAID EBONY AND SPECIMEN WOOD CENTRE TABLE
FIRST HALF 19TH CENTURY, CEYLON
The circular tilt-top inlaid with a central circular medallion engraved with an elephant, issuing swirling radiating bands of various specimen veneers divided by chequer-banding and white metal lines, including palm, calamander, tamarind, satinwood, jackwood and ebony, with a husk border and Greek-key edge, on a leaf-capped baluster column with a stylized tripod in the form of peakcocks terminating in castors
29½ in. (75 cm.) high; 44½ in. (113 cm.) diameter

注意事項

Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country. This lot will be removed to an off-site warehouse at the close of business on the day of sale - 2 weeks free storage

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拍品專文

This table, with its carved ebony and exotic native timbers, is typical of furniture manufactured on the island of Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) in the Galle district throught the 19th century. Tables of this type were supplied to British colonists in Ceylon and India for export to England. Their popularity was noted by the traveller H.C. Sirr in 1850, who wrote that in Galle one could find 'those exquisite inlaid articles, which far surpass any specimen of Tunbridge ware that has yet been produced - ivory and various coloured native woods are inlaid upon the ebony and as the designs are well defined, the effect produced is magnificent' (A. Jaffer, Furniture from British India and Ceylon, 2001, p. 373)
A number of tables similarly inlaid with exotic woods are known, including the earliest dated example, formerly at the Royal Commonwealth Society with a presentation plaque dated 1836 (ibid., p. 272, fig. 142). A table with a similarly inlaid top was sold, Christie's, London, 2 May 2002, lot 125 (£52,580). Another table with a similar top and base was sold, Christie's, London, 27 November 2003, lot 78 (£35,850). More recently, a similar table formerly in the collection of Peter John Arendzen (d. 1932), sold Christie's, South Kensington, 13 May 2008, lot 231 (£38,900).