Lot Essay
the design for this table probably draws its inspiration from the cloister of Monreale in Sicily. The cloister built by Arabic as well as Byzantine craftsmen in the 13th century shows an interesting mixture of these two artistic traditions. It is famous for its arched courtyard, supported by a series of twin columns, of which no two are alike. The supports of the present table are crafted as twin columns and are all four differently inlaid.