How do I identify an elephant table?

Elephant tables feature carved wooden elephant heads and trunks forming the structural legs or central support of the piece. These are typically executed in dense hardwoods with detailed facial and tusk carving. Such tables frequently originate from the nineteenth century and often connect stylistically to the Bombay presidency workshop traditions.

What is an Anglo-Indian table?

An Anglo-Indian table is a piece made in the Indian subcontinent during the British colonial era, combining local artisan carving with European furniture shapes. They utilise regional timbers like teak and padauk. These tables range from small occasional stands to large centre and console tables decorated with dense floral or animal motifs.

How were folding campaign tables used?

Folding campaign tables were designed for colonial officers and travellers who required furniture that could be packed down for transit. Their bases collapse or fold flat while remaining rigid when assembled. They often combine teak or padauk with brass hinges, reinforcing plates, and occasional metal top surfaces suited to tropical climates.

What woods were used for these tables?

Makers relied on durable tropical hardwoods including teak, padauk, rosewood, and general hardwood. These materials provided the structural strength required for deep carving. Selected timbers often exhibit rich dark tones and heavy grain patterns that complement inlaid bone or brass wire decoration.

Are these tables solid hardwood?

These tables are constructed from solid tropical hardwoods such as padauk, teak, and rosewood rather than veneered deal. This solid construction was necessary to support the heavy relief carving characteristic of the style. Solid timber also allowed artisans to carve directly into the frame for figural table bases and folding mechanisms.

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Indian Carved Hardwood Tables

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These indian carved hardwood tables bring intricate regional carving, dense hardwoods, and folding campaigns into British rooms from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.