Games table - Wood

Empire-style gaming table. Portuguese, of the 19th century, with Empire taste, in mahogany wood, veneered and with hawthorn inlays. Rectangular, hinged top, opening to reveal the interior intended for gaming, lined with green felt. A sober and elegant construction, with symmetrical composition, set on a central pyramidal-section column, decorated with carved elements, extending over a serpentine-cut base and supported on feet with metal ferrules. The piece’s structure shows an Empire and Neoclassical-inspired language, particularly expressive in the architectural design of the central column, in the symmetrical organization of the whole, and in restrained decoration. The use of mahogany, complemented by veneer and hawthorn inlays, enhances the surface through the contrast of different tones and grain patterns. The central column, pyramidal in form and marked by carvings inspired by classical motifs, constitutes the main structural and decorative element of the table. The cut-out base gives dynamism to the composition, while the metal tips on the feet help protect the wood and reinforce the furniture’s functional character. The hinged top reveals the interior for gaming, lined with green felt, a characteristic solution of 19th-century gaming tables. Thus, the piece combines an eminently practical function with a decorative conception suitable for the more elaborate 19th-century domestic interiors. The configuration and formal treatment bring it closer to Portuguese furniture of Empire taste, 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. In terms of composition quality, carving work, and the contrast provided by different materials and woods, it constitutes a noteworthy example within 19th-century Portuguese gaming furniture. Signs of use compatible with age. Dimensions: 77 × 69 × 35 cm.