Collection
/
Decorative Arts and Design

Table

American

Brooklyn Museum photograph

Caption

American. Table, ca. 1900–1920. Painted wood., 29 1/2 x 23 x 23 in. (74.9 x 58.4 x 58.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, H. Randolph Lever Fund, 82.19. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Gallery

Not on view

Culture

American

Title

Table

Date

ca. 1900–1920

Medium

Painted wood.

Classification

Furniture

Dimensions

29 1/2 x 23 x 23 in. (74.9 x 58.4 x 58.4 cm)

Signatures

no signature

Inscriptions

no inscriptions

Markings

no marks

Credit Line

H. Randolph Lever Fund

Accession Number

82.19

Frequent Art Questions

  • Do you know how this table was made? The pattern on the table top is unusual and fascinating.

    Agreed! Rather than leave the natural bark on the wood as was often done with such rustic furniture, the maker of this table painted the wood white to resemble birch. Then, in order to imitate the natural markings found on birch bark, the maker held a candle flame near the wood to deposit dark rings of soot to resemble twig-like formations.

  • Can you tell me more about this?

    Isn't this table fascinating? It is made in a very interesting way, using paint and paper mâché to resemble birch. the black detailing is actually soot! The unusual materials were a product of the industrial revolution, and new experimentation with unusual materials in furniture manufacturing to create works to please the middle class.
    We love it! Thank you for the info.
    You're welcome! I like it too, it's so cleverly made!

Have information?

Have information about an artwork? Contact us at

bkmcollections@brooklynmuseum.org.

Artists and makers

American

1,739 works in the collection