An Anglo-Indian Sideboard

Anglo-Indian

Consoles and side tables emerged as quintessential furniture pieces of the Anglo-Indian style of decorative arts. Either composed as a standalone piece or a part of a larger furniture set including chairs and tables, these articles fused utility with a distinct aesthetic sense.

Using tropical hardwood, this reddish-brown sideboard combines skilled Indian craftsmanship, European design idioms and regional influences. The bare tabletop is complemented by a raised decorative back and aprons placed on four ornamented cabriole legs. A mirror image of differing proportions, composed of a scrolling arrangement of leaves and vines emanating from a central bird, carved in relief, is reflected on both the back and the apron of the table. With a tilted head and outstretched wings, the two birds of varying sizes are perched on small blocks.

A common design for each support or leg is maintained throughout. The upper section features a stylized head of an animal, resembling a lion, with a flowing floral creeper emerging from its gaping mouth. The leg continues into a decorative floral arrangement and culminates in a classic acanthus scroll. The x-shaped stretcher, composed of meandering vines with sprouting leaves, connects each leg for added structural support.

Placed against a wall or in a corner, sideboards such as this emerged as a coveted piece of furniture in the homes of British officers, the Indian elite and were even exported to Europe.