Work-table thumbnail 1
Work-table thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Work-table

Work Table
ca. 1800 (made), 1837 (altered)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This work table consists of an ivory-veneered box on four solid ivory legs. It was designed for needlework and is fitted with compartments for spools, thimbles, needles and threads. It would originally have had a suspended pouch for storing needlework. The table was made in Murshidabad, the nawabi capital of Bengal. It was a famous centre of ivory carving where ivory workers sometimes made furniture for European customers. The carving on the legs is taken directly from plate two of The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Drawing Book (1793) by Thomas Sheraton.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleWork-table (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Sandalwood, veneered with carved ivory, with turned and carved solid ivory legs, and a brass lock and silvered brass hinges
Brief description
Ivory work table made in Bengal, late 18th century.
Physical description
The top of this Adam-style work-table acts as the lid. The table is made of sandalwood with carved ivory veneer and other carved ivory parts.
Dimensions
  • Height: 68.5cm
  • Width: 30cm
  • Depth: 30cm
Credit line
From the Rev. N. P. Sturt
Object history
Berhampur and Murshidabad were major centres of ivory carving.
Given by the Rev. N.P. Sturt.
Production
More likely made at Berhampur
Subjects depicted
Summary
This work table consists of an ivory-veneered box on four solid ivory legs. It was designed for needlework and is fitted with compartments for spools, thimbles, needles and threads. It would originally have had a suspended pouch for storing needlework. The table was made in Murshidabad, the nawabi capital of Bengal. It was a famous centre of ivory carving where ivory workers sometimes made furniture for European customers. The carving on the legs is taken directly from plate two of The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Drawing Book (1793) by Thomas Sheraton.
Bibliographic references
  • Jaffer, Amin Furniture from British India and Ceylon: A Catalogue of the Collections in the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Peabody Essex Museum. London : V&A Publications, 2001. 416 p., ill. ISBN 1851773185, p.2565, pl.86.
  • Arts of Bengal : the heritage of Bangladesh and eastern India : an exhibition organized by the Whitechapel Art Gallery in collaboration with the Victoria and Albert Museum : 9 November-30 December 1979, Whitechapel Art Gallery ..., 12 January-17 February 1980, Manchester City Art Gallery ... . [London]: Whitechapel Art Gallery, [1979] Number: 085488047X (pbk.) : p.76
Collection
Accession number
IS.47-1967

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Record createdMarch 10, 2003
Record URL
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