Inlay wood. Incrustation. Metal. Baize. Other decorative inserts. Dimensions : 766x967x462. Ukraine, Dnipropetrovsk, 1993. Made by three cabinet-makers, Father and sons Matyukhin.
Description of the article.
The table rests on four tapering legs of rectangular section, terminating in brass sabots. When open, the two-leaf top provides a square platform. In the centre of the top, when closed, a stylized vase with flowers is depicted. Two acanthus-sprays linked together by inserts of mammoth ivory, are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the vase. In the corners of the top, when open, elaborated scrolled patterns are inlaid. The surface for playing cards is covered with baize and bordered by a floral frame. The frieze is decorated with festoons of ribboned flowers. The descending lines of tulips in lemonwood embellish the legs. The interior side of the frieze contains a drawer for cards.
All surface of the gaming table is veneered with marquetry in coloured woods of a thickness of 2mm (massive wood). The table is richly encrusted with ivory, nacre and turquoise.
This article is made in the " Authenticity " style and created after the specimen of the original table which was produced by craftsmen in St. Petersburg's workshops in the XVIIIth century.
Wooden ground of the article : beech and pinewood.
Veneering : palisander, lemonwood, palmwood, Karelian birch, juniper, cornelwood, zebrano, stained hornbeam, stained maple, mulberrywood, pearwood, red maple, black poplar burl, scumpia, boxwood, amaranth, mahogany, alburnum of sandalwood, kewawa wood (ironwood), fumed oak, maple, oak, rosewood, black-wood (ebony) ; baize.
Other (non-wooden) decorative inserts : mammoth ivory (mammoth tusk), cachalot tooth, turquoise, Indian and Polynesian nacres.
Quantity of non-wooden inserts : turquoise 78 pieces, nacre 168 pieces, mammoth ivory 6 pieces, cachalot tooth 232 pieces.
In all : 464 pieces.
A wide range of materials and developed art taste of the authors of this table have allowed to create a specimen of great art value and craftsmanship. The technique of performance of marquetry (when to compose a design, small pieces of valuable woods, 2 millimetres thick, are inlaid on a wooden ground of the article, covering its whole surface) is brought at high level. The marquetry is a very complicated and time-taking work. So, for execution of inlay on edges of the table top and of 4 legs it was used the most complicated technique the method of miter, when the pieces of wood are accurately adjusted with one another at an angle of 45o. Such technique is rearly found even in specimens of antique furniture. The use of ivory, nacre, turquoise and exotic woods emphasizes the art effect. The article is distinguished with strictness, perfectly chosen lines and magnificent marquetry. During preparation and realization of the work the masters have developed and employed their own technological methods including the art selection of woods. The materials used for marquetry work have been seasoned from 8 till 20 years.
This specimen of furniture art could be intended for the European historical and art museums, for interiors of grand palace ensembles and for new residences and offices. The table could be also used as a diplomatic gift.
The gaming table was submitted for expert examination to the D.I. Yavornitski State Historical Museum of Dnipropetrovsk and had been appreciated by experts as a unique piece of furniture art.