Oriental Style Side Table
These oriental style side table pieces bring distinct imported character to a room, valued for their decorative bamboo frames and painted lacquer surfaces.
Oriental Style Side Table
An oriental style side table encompasses low occasional tables and lamp tables drawn from Chinoiserie, Aesthetic Movement, and Anglo-Indian traditions. Most examples met on this page date from the Victorian era up through the nineteen-twenties.
Forms include two-tier designs, dropleaf tables, and full-size Hoshiarpur tables. Makers utilised bamboo, teak, rosewood, and mahogany to build these compact surfaces for sitting rooms and parlours.
The aesthetic bridges British domestic furniture manufacture with decorative motifs inspired by Eastern design. Buyers encounter varied formats ranging from black lacquered surfaces to intricately carved wooden frames.
How they were made
Construction relies on natural materials such as bamboo, cane, and dense hardwoods including teak and rosewood. Joinery incorporates turned wooden components and bound cane shelving suited for holding lamps and small objects.
Surfaces receive decorative treatments including black lacquer, gilt detailing, and japaned finishes. Selected pieces feature inlaid bone accents set into carved wooden panels following traditional regional methods.
Oriental Style Side Table Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for oriental style side table among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Listings feature bamboo, teak, rosewood, and lacquer alongside period styles like Chinoiserie and the Aesthetic Movement.
What varies in quality
Quality rests in the execution of the surface decoration and the integrity of the structural frame. Finer examples display crisp gilt work on lacquered wood and tightly bound cane lower tiers without looseness.
The refinement of carved detail on rosewood or teak frames separates standard production items from superior cabinet work. Material selection also dictates worth, with dense hardwoods and genuine bone inlay marking elevated craftsmanship.
The Oriental Style Side Table Glossary
- Chinoiserie
- European decorative style reflecting Chinese artistic influences, commonly seen in painted lacquer scenes on furniture. This approach gained particular popularity during the Victorian period.
- Aesthetic Movement
- Late nineteenth-century design current that promoted art for art's sake, incorporating Japanese motifs and bamboo construction into British interiors. It favoured form and pattern over heavy historical revival.
- Japaned
- European imitation of Japanese lacquerwork achieved through layered varnishes and dark finishes. The technique produced a hard, glossy surface often decorated with metallic scenes.
- Hoshiarpur
- Indian city renowned for intricate woodwork and bone inlay furniture production during the nineteenth century. Tables from this centre feature dense carving across wooden surfaces.
Oriental Style Side Table: Frequently Asked Questions
What is an oriental style side table?
These items are small occasional tables produced in Britain and abroad during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, drawing on Eastern decorative traditions. They serve as functional lamp stands and display surfaces.
Construction typically involves bamboo, lacquered wood, or carved hardwoods like teak and rosewood. Their compact dimensions allow them to fit easily beside chairs and sofas.
How do I date a bamboo side table?
Dating relies on examining the construction methods, materials, and mounting hardware used in the frame. Late Victorian and Edwardian examples often feature specific joinery styles and cane lower tiers.
Comparing the lacquer finish and any gilt decoration against known period pieces helps narrow down the decade of manufacture. Catalogue records and dated archives provide further reference points.
Where were these tables used originally?
Victorian and Edwardian households placed these occasional tables in drawing rooms, parlours, and reception halls. They held table lamps, calling card trays, and decorative ornaments.
Their lightweight construction made them portable, allowing residents to move them around sitting spaces as needed. Today they function well in similar domestic roles.
How do I care for a lacquered table?
Lacquered and japaned surfaces require gentle dusting with a soft, dry cloth to prevent scratching the glossy finish. Avoid placing them in direct sunlight or near heat sources that might dry the wood.
Applying harsh chemical polishes can damage the delicate painted decoration. Careful handling preserves the original surface sheen for future years.