Card table
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1900
Materials
brass & shisham
Measurements
77 x 70 x 70 cm
Place of origin
India
Order this imageCollection
Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire
NT 107721
Summary
An eight-legged sheeshum & tarkashi work card table, Mainpuri, Indian, circa 1900. The edges of the table are rounded and have an openwork carving of a figure. Between the edges of the table there is fine tarkashi work, which is brass wire geometric inlay. The table has a drawer for containing the cards. This table was on display at the India Exhibition in Delhi 1902-1903, where it was bought by the Viceroy. 'A sheeshum wood card-table, inlaid with brass wire (tarkashi work) - Mainpuri, United Provinces' (Christie's entry). The tarkashi technique of copper/brass inlay is made by beating the metal into very thin sheets and then cutting them into fine wire. The pattern is then drawn onto paper and a stencil is made on the wood; it is usually of a geometrical design, the circles are made by twisting wire. This table is illustrated in the catalogue of the 1902-1903 Indian Exhibition at Delhi. The catalogue entry reads, 'The card table shown on plate no.33 is a beautiful example of this style of work [tarkashi] and has been purchased by His Excellency the Viceroy' (page 146).
Provenance
This table was on display at the India Exhibition in Delhi 1902-1903, where it was bought by the Viceroy. 'A sheeshum wood card-table, inlaid with brass wire (tarkashi work) - Mainpuri, United Provinces'Purchased in 1986 by the National Heritage Memorial Fund from Francis Curzon, 3rd Viscount Scarsdale (1924-2000). Gifted to the National Trust in 1987 by the National Heritage Memorial Fund.