Empire Marquetry Round Centre Table with Gilt Acanthus Pedestal — 140cm

Design & Inspiration

There is a particular authority that a great round table brings to a room — no head, no foot, every position equal. This Empire-style centre table, faithfully reproduced in the tradition of Percier and Fontaine's early 19th-century design vocabulary, carries that authority in full. At 140cm across, it fills an entrance hall or formal salon with the gravitational pull of a room's natural focal point, its circular form drawing the eye from every angle while its surface rewards close inspection with layer upon layer of marquetry detail.

Materials & Craftsmanship

The tabletop is a tour de force of hand-laid marquetry: a central medallion of radiating figural inlay surrounded by a broad field of warm fruitwood veneer, bordered by a dense frieze of scrolling acanthus and stylised floral motifs set into the dark mahogany ground of the apron. The apron itself is rimmed above and below by twin brass banding lines, punctuated at the front face by a proud antique-gold gilt mount — a maskaron-adjacent cartouche with acanthus wings — cast in solid brass and hand-finished. The entire surface is French-polished to a deep, hand-rubbed lustre that catches light the way only genuine craftwork does. The base is a tapering faceted pedestal, its four faces each carrying a full panel of scrolling arabesque marquetry in lighter wood on dark mahogany, sitting on a concave-sided platform base with bun feet at the corners, each foot capped with a gilt brass shoe mount. Romanian solid redwood (<10% humidity) forms the structural core throughout.

Dimensions & Details

Diameter: 140 cm | Height: 82 cm. The 140cm diameter comfortably seats six for an informal arrangement, or serves as an entry hall table of commanding presence. The 82cm height is standard dining/console height, making this table as functional as it is decorative. The pedestal base leaves the floor plane clear, allowing rugs and flooring to read beneath it without interruption.

Handcrafted in Egypt

Every element of this table — from the hand-laid marquetry panels to the individually cast and chased brass mounts — is produced in Brass & Wood's Egyptian workshops by craftsmen trained in the classical European joinery and decorative arts tradition. The marquetry alone requires hours of precise knife-cutting and fitting before a single piece of veneer is pressed. This is not printed decoration; these are individually placed pieces of wood, cut and fitted by hand.

Frequently Asked Questions

What materials is this table made from?

The primary structure is Romanian solid redwood with a moisture content below 10%. The decorative surfaces feature hand-laid marquetry in contrasting light fruitwood and dark mahogany veneers. Ornamental mounts are solid cast brass with an antique-gold hand-finish. The surface is French-polished.

Is assembly required?

Minimal assembly is required — the pedestal base and tabletop ship separately and connect with concealed hardware. No specialist tools are needed; full instructions are included.

Can this table be customised?

Yes. Brass & Wood offers customisation of finish tone, brass patina, and overall dimensions. Contact our team to discuss your specific requirements before placing your order.