Here at Carlton Hobbs we are in the final week of “ON TOPS: An exhibition of rare tabletops from the 2nd century AD to the 19th century,” which closes this Friday, May 22nd.
We have had a great response to the exhibition, thanks in part to this wonderful article by Wendy Moonan in the New York Times: Adorned Tabletops. From the moment the article came out, we’ve had a constant stream of visitors–some so eager to see the tops that they even arrived during the set-up!
Exquisite Scagliola Tabletop Depicting a Scene from the Hunt
We have so far introduced a number of tabletops that use stone as their primary decorative ingredient, whether it be the tesserae of mosaic or pietre dure of marble inlay. An new art form that ensued was Scagliola, where imitation stone is created by combining ground selenite with water, animal glue and natural pigments. The resulting mixture is spread or, once hardened, carved into and engraved with a particular design. Finally, it is heavily polished to give the appearance of marble.
A Tabletop Composed of a Section of a Septarian Nodule
We have just received the first image of one of the extraordinary tabletops that will be in our exhibition ‘On Tops’ in May! This tabletop is made from a section of a septarian nodule, a remarkable type of geological formation also known as “turtle stone” for its characteristic pattern of radiating cracks.
Septarian nodules are created when the pores in a mass of sedimentary rock (often composed of fossils dating from the Cretaceous period, 50-70 million years ago) are filled in with jelly-like mineral deposits, which harden into a spherical or ovoid form. The exact cause of the cracks, or septaria, that are found inside the nodules is something of a mystery; but their striking beauty is undeniable!
In our upcoming gallery exhibition, “ON TOPS,” we display a number of purpose-made pieces, where table bases of later construction were made specifically to suit their special tops.
Tabletop Inset with Parchin Kari Panels
One such center table to be exhibited comprises a specially constructed base (circa 1840) designed in the manner of English architect Richard Bridgens, and a top made from two 17th-century parchin kari panels. Parchin Kari is the Mughal word for pietre dure (or “hardstones”). The most famous building to feature this technique is the Taj Mahal, the finest example of Mughal architecture.
Starting this past October, Carlton Hobbs once again joined the exhibition circuit beginning with the San Francisco Fall Antiques Show. After extensive preparation, including the production of our latest catalog, we then set off for the Palm Beach American International Fine Art Fair in February, which was met with great success. Now, with the last days of winter almost behind us, we here at Carlton Hobbs are gearing up for an exciting spring season.
