Games table - Wood

Empire-style gaming table. Portuguese, 19th century, of Empire taste, mahogany wood, veneered and ebony inlays. Rectangular, foldable top, opening to reveal interior destined for gaming, lined with green felt. The case exhibits sober and elegant construction, with symmetrical composition, set on a central pyramidal-section column, decorated with carved elements, extending over a sinuously cut base and supported on feet with metal ferrules. The piece’s structure shows a language of Empire and Neoclassical inspiration, particularly expressive in the architectural composition of the central column, in the symmetrical organization of the whole, and in the restraint of decoration. The use of mahogany, complemented by veneering and ebony inlays, enhances the surface through the contrast between different tones and grain patterns. The central column, pyramidal in configuration and marked by classical-inspired carvings, constitutes the principal structural and decorative element of the table. The cut-out base gives dynamism to the composition, while the metal ferrules on the feet contribute to wood protection and to the functional character of the furniture. The foldable top reveals the interior destined for gaming, lined with green felt, a feature characteristic of 19th-century gaming tables. The piece thus combines a practically eminent function with a decorative conception suitable for the more elaborately furnished interiors of the 19th century. The configuration and formal treatment bring it close to Portuguese models of Empire-taste 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 the composition, the carving work, and the contrast provided by the different materials and woods, it constitutes an object of interest within 19th-century Portuguese gaming furniture. Signs of use compatible with age. Dimensions: 77 × 69 × 35 cm.