British Colonial Ebony Chess Table
Mid 19th centuryA fine British colonial ebony chess table with carved and pierced apron. The checkerboard is inlaid with satinwood and ebony. Raised on a spiral turned and beautifully carved column and tripod base.
The table is in good condition and has been lovingly restored and finished to its former glory using a traditional form of French polishing and waxing.
Ebony has long been prized for its dense hardness, which lends itself for beautiful carving and a smooth finish after being polished. It is considered the aristocrat of hardwoods and is native to southern India and Sri Lanka. Ebony has always been a luxury wood and was so popular in 17th century France, that “ebenistes” is still the French word for cabinet maker. Furniture pieces of lesser woods were often “ebonized” (painted black) to make them look as if made of ebony.
Find out more about Colonial Furniture.
This chess table has been sold. Please keep checking our website as we may add a similar piece.
Malabar coast
British colonial India
H: 82 cm W: 44 cm D: 44 cm
H: 32½ “ W: 17½” D: 17½”
