Table
c. 1880
Rosewood, rosewood veneer, and walnut paint-grained rosewood (secondary woods: ash, bird's eye maple, and walnut), with brass, copper, shell, ebony, and mother-of-pearl inlay, and gilt-brass feet
93 × 49.9 cm (36.6 × 19.6 in)
SEE IT IN PERSON
● On view now — Gallery 273
Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · verified July 2026
Discussion
FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG
Lightweight and portable, this table could be moved from room to room as needed to hold and display household goods. Yet it could also stand alone as an object to be admired, attesting to the celebration of functional items as art objects that flourished during the Aesthetic Movement of the late 19th century. Its luxurious materials, including rosewood, ebony, and mother-of-pearl, enhance the dynamic hexagonal design with its asymmetrical inlay of iridescent insects crawling across the surface.
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