164) Sentimental Table

My father and brother have made this gift to me:

It’s a small oak table (29″x 29″x 29″) with family history. My father says that it was in the house in Victoria BC that my grandfather bought in 1928 from a former officer in the British army in India. The officer bought the table in India some years before.

When my grandfather sold that Victoria house and moved the household goods back to Alberta, the table came with them. My father saw the table on his brother’s ranch, in the chicken house, covered with bird excrement, mildew and cobwebs. Uncle David gave it to my parents, who repaired and re-finished antiques as a hobby. Mom and Dad  cleaned it all up, repainted the decorative pieces with as close a match as they could, and replaced the round shelf underneath. I first remember seeing it in my parents’ home in the early 1970s, when Dad asked for help to replace the goatskin on the top, which had been damaged by a moving crew. I found some soft goatskin, and used the ratty old top as a template.

Bead and fringe:

Table decoration. The half-circle inlay is attached with tiny brass nails:

Hand-hewn foot detail:

The base construction:

There’s a small space in the living room that I think of as the family history corner. That’s where the table belongs.

On a trip to San Francisco, I found two comfortable captain’s chairs at a Goodwill store ($20 each). Here’s the label on the seat bottom:

I thought these chairs would be perfect with the table, but when I placed them there, they seemed too large for the small table and for the corner. What do you think?

Two other little chairs that we had on hand seem to be better-proportioned:

(My sister, who has a collectibles booth and blog, says these words are useful descriptors for these chairs: Elm, English, Edwardian, Rattlesnake turnings.)

I’m thrilled to have this storied piece in our home, to remind me of family history every day. I am grateful to my brother for giving it up and to my father for passing it on to me.

Linking to:

Miss Mustard Seed Furniture Friday

The Brambleberry Cottage Time Travel Thursday

From My Front Porch to Yours Treasure Hunt Thursday

Funky Junk Interiors Saturday Night Special

 

 

Tagged as: Bolin Chair Company, Family historical table, Interior design with vintage furniture, oak side table with bead and goatskin detail, re-using vintage furniture, table made in British India