The Cleveland Museum of Art

Tea Table

inlaid wood (mahogany?), cast and gilded bronze mounts, inlays of ivory or bone, metal, and mother-of-pearl (marine mussels or pearl oysters)Carlo Bugatti (Italian, 1856–1940)/c. 1907

Description

Luxurious materials might catch the eye first, but a closer look reveals the imaginary creatures that adorn the surface of this table. Featuring elaborate arches, a favorite motif that appeared throughout Bugatti's furniture, this fantastical imagery is a window into the designer's expressive imagination.

Provenance

First owned by Mrs. Anna Blake [d. 1956] who took it to Cape Town, South Africa.; Inherited by her son Robert da Costa Blake.; His sale Kirkcaldzs, Cape Town, South Africa, 24 May 1965, lot 34.; Private collection, South Africa; (Galerie Moderne, Ltd., London); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH

Dimensions

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Source

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Movement / Period

Decorative Art and Design

Accession No

1991.45

Official Citations

[The Cleveland Museum of Art Official Record][Wikipedia Article][Full Resolution Image]

Curatorial Affinity Stream

Continuing the Universe of Carlo Bugatti (Italian, 1856–1940)

Decorative Art and Design • France, Paris • Harmonious Works & Contemporaries

Continuous Discovery