Tafel van coromandelhout, ingelegd met tinnen biezen 1920

This "Tafel van coromandelhout, ingelegd met tinnen biezen" table, made of coromandel wood inlaid with pewter trim was made by Carel Adolph Lion Cachet. I love the way that the surface shows this history of its making, the wood grain and the silvery pewter contrasting. The table’s surface has this amazing texture from the wood grain that you can see so clearly. It really makes me think about process, about how art is made layer by layer. There's something almost geological about it, like looking at a landscape formed over time. Look at those pewter trims, almost like an outline, it highlights the dark brown of the wood. The legs are so carefully crafted, with details that invite you to examine the piece more closely. It’s like the table is having a conversation with itself, and inviting us to listen in. It makes me think a bit of furniture by Carlo Mollino, with its elegant lines and natural material. Both artists explore the potential for furniture to be both functional and expressive, practical and sublime.