Arts and Crafts inlaid Centre Table of Islamic Influence

AN ARTS AND CRAFTS INLAID PADOUK CENTRE TABLE OF ISLAMIC INFLUENCE

Probably American circa 1900

This exquisite and jewel like table is extensively inlaid with abalone, gilt metal and copper and bone stringing. The inlaid rectangular top depicts meandering stylised mistletoe with a wide border of copper wire motifs interspersed with Islamic style roundels, further branches of mistletoe and circles of berries. The branches are formed by double lines of gilt metal stringing, the leaves and berries formed with abalone while the roundels are inlaid with bone. The frieze which encloses a single drawer is inlaid on all four sides with a series of Islamic six-pointed roundels with copper strung borders, above a continuous double bone strung stretcher united at the centre by three vertical bone strung splats. The four tapering legs which are also inlaid on all four sides with continuous sprays, have distinctive triple incised reeded capitals level with the frieze splats. The gilt metal shoes also have incised reed decoration.  

The exceptional cabinetwork points to an important work shop. The dovetailing and detailed attention to the drawer construction, enabling it to be side hung without the need for a shelf, relate to illustration 94 in Herter Brothers published by Harry N. Abrams. Inc in association with the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.  The drawer front is padouk while the laminated linings appear to be yellow poplar veneered onto Oregon pine/ Douglas fir

The unique treatment in forming the mistletoe branches with double wire stringing strikingly apes those in Walter Crane’s ‘Flower Fairies’, a group of six tiles probably

made by Pilkington in 1900. Walter Crane visited North America in the late 1880s and had a profound influence on the Arts and Crafts movement there.

Lit. Herter Brothers Published by Harry N. Abrams in association with the Museum of Fine Arts Houston illustration 94

William Morris and the Arts and Crafts Movement by Linda Parry published by Portland House New York plate 23

This object incorporates old ivory and has been registered with Defra

This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

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