Dramatic Serving Table With Bone Inlay Top

This large and striking serving table is made from sheesham wood overlaid with white camel bone and black resin. The resulting surface is exotic, visually dramatic and extremely tough. Anchored in the Indian tradition of intricate marquetry and filigree design, the style and shape of the table is British Colonial, giving the piece its stylish “safari meets country house” aesthetic. British Colonial (or Anglo-Indian) furniture was produced mainly in the 19th and first half of the 20th century and refers to furnishings that were in the British style but made in the colonies with native hardwoods and native labor. Compared with British-made pieces of the period, colonial pieces tend to be sturdier and more luxurious. Teak and mahogany replaced oak and pine and the amount of wood used was extremely generous. Back in Britain, deforestation had left wood very scarce and new techniques (like using plywood for backs) reduced wood consumption. In colonies like India, the finest of the old ways persisted right up to World War II.