What is an Anglo-Indian coffee table?

An Anglo-Indian coffee table is a low wooden piece created in India during the nineteenth or early twentieth century for British colonial homes. These items utilise dense local hardwoods like teak and feature deep, traditional carving. Many of these pieces were adapted from traditional low tables or occasional stands to suit Western sitting room heights. They bridge eastern craftsmanship and western domestic utility.

How do I care for a teak table?

Care for a teak table involves dusting with a soft, dry cloth and avoiding harsh chemical polishes that can damage the aged timber surface. Natural oils in the hardwood help protect the material, but excessive moisture should be kept away from inlaid brass and carved crevices. Keep the table out of direct sunlight to prevent the timber from drying out or fading. Periodic gentle conditioning with appropriate wax maintains the rich tone of the wood.

What periods do these tables date from?

The pieces listed on this page primarily date from the nineteenth century through to the early decades of the twentieth century. Specific periods represented include eighteen-fifty, nineteen-hundred, nineteen-ten, and nineteen-thirty. Earlier examples often display deeper hand-carving and heavier hardwood construction. Later pieces from the nineteen-thirties continue colonial export traditions with varied occasional forms.

Where were these tables made?

These tables were manufactured in workshops across the Indian subcontinent and through Chinese export channels during the colonial era. Centres like Bombay produced large quantities of heavily carved furniture destined for international markets. Local artisans executed the intricate woodwork, combining indigenous motifs such as elephants with European furniture shapes.