Fold this table down and it collapses flat in seconds, exactly as it was designed to a century ago. The octagonal top is worked in brass and copper wire inlay set into dark hardwood, radiating out in a tight eight-point star, the same Hoshiarpur inlay tradition that made Punjab a center of metal-and-wood craftsmanship under British colonial trade, when tables like this one were built specifically to pack flat for the journey home. The base folds along the same logic, pierced jali fretwork panels cut through with arched, Moorish-influenced openings that scissor closed beneath the top when it's not in use. Run a hand across the star pattern and you can feel the brass sitting slightly proud of the copper, two different metals set by hand rather than stamped as one piece. At 20 inches wide and 21 inches tall, it works as a side table or small nightstand, and folds down small enough to tuck away when you need the floor space back. Keep it open where the metal can catch the light, that's when the inlay actually earns its keep.
*Era: Mid-century, Anglo-Indian
*Dimension: 20"(W) x 20"(D) x 21"(H)
*Material: Brass and copper wire inlay on hardwood
*Finish: Inlaid star-pattern top, folding jali fretwork base
*Condition: Wear consistent with age & use, blemishes and imperfections will be present. These are not to be considered defects but rather part of its character & historical value.
A mid-century Anglo-Indian folding table, 20"W x 20"D x 21"H. An octagonal brass and copper wire-inlaid top in an eight-point star pattern sits on a folding base of pierced jali fretwork panels, in the Hoshiarpur inlay tradition of Punjab, India. Sold by DE-COR, a 20+ year antique showroom in Pasadena, CA.
Q: Why does this table fold flat?
A: It's built in the Hoshiarpur tradition of Punjab, India, where brass and copper inlaid tables were made to fold down for shipping and travel during the British colonial trade era. The X-frame, jali fretwork base scissors closed under the top, the same mechanism used when these tables were first exported abroad.
Q: What are the brass and copper lines on top actually made of?
A: Thin brass and copper wire, hand-set into channels carved directly into the wood, not painted or stamped on. That's why the metal sits slightly proud of the surface and why the pattern has held up as well as it has.
Q: Is this table sturdy enough for regular use, or is it decorative only?
A: It's fine for light use, a drink table, plant stand, or occasional table, but the folding joints and inlay are best treated gently rather than loaded with heavy daily use.
(Requires White Glove Delivery)
**Please bear in mind that colors of products shown may vary slightly from their original color due to monitor display settings or photography studio
