Center Table
c. 1755
Medium
Cuban mahogany and iron fittings
Dimensions
Open: 75 × 183 × 108 cm (29 1/2 × 72 × 42 1/2 in.); Closed: 75 × 183 × 68.5 cm (29 1/2 × 72 × 27 in.)
Classification
table
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
180742
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Imagine how impressive this table would have looked when fully extended and set with silver at the center of a large hall glowing with candlelight. Made in England in the mid-18th century, it has a hinged top so that it could be placed against a wall when not in use. The table is made of mahogany, which was imported to England from Central America and the West Indies. The dense and fine-grained nature of the wood made it suitable for carving in relief, as can be seen in the virtuoso carving of ...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...