A 19th Century Lacquer Centre Table

A rare chinoiserie centre table with rectangular black japanned top, having chamfered corners and decorated with a central cartouche of exotic birds, having a bamboo border, legs and lattice work stretchers.

This extraordinary table was made in the mid-nineteenth century. While the table has an Oriental flavour, the japanned top is in imitation of Chinese lacquer. However, the bamboo structure supporting it is present owing to England’s position as a Colonial trading nation and the table was most probably constructed from materials brought back to Britain from the Far East at this time.