Games table - Wood

Empire-era gaming table. Portuguese, 19th century, of Empire taste, in mahogany wood, veneered and with hawthorn fillets. Rectangular, flip-top top, opening to reveal the interior for gaming, lined with green felt. A sober and elegant construction box, with symmetric composition, set on a central pyramidal-section column, decorated with carved elements, extending over a sinuous-cut base and supported on feet with metal caps. The piece's structure shows an Empire and Neoclassical-inspired language, particularly expressive in the architectural composition of the central column, in the symmetric organization of the ensemble, and in the restraint of the decoration. The use of mahogany, complemented by veneering and hawthorn fillets, enhances the surface through contrasts of different tones and grain patterns. The central column, pyramidal in configuration and marked by carvings inspired by classical motifs, constitutes the main structural and decorative element of the table. The carved base adds dynamism to the composition, while the metal caps on the feet help protect the wood and contribute to the functional character of the furniture. The flip-top reveals the interior intended for gaming, lined with green felt, a feature characteristic of nineteenth-century gaming tables. Thus, the piece combines an eminently practical function with a decorative conception suitable for the more elaborate domestic interiors of the 19th century. The configuration and formal treatment bring it close to Portuguese models of Empire-style furniture, with influence from English models, particularly widespread in Portugal during the 19th century. The central column, the architectural structure, and the use of mahogany are particularly characteristic elements of this language. By the quality of composition, the carving work, and the contrast provided by the different materials and woods, it constitutes an example of interest within Portuguese gaming furniture of the nineteenth century. Signs of use compatible with age. Dimensions: 77 × 69 × 35 cm.