Goldsmith table, France, 1880s

Spectacular rustic goldsmith table, sourced in France, dating back to the end of the 19^th century. This impressive, extralarge piece combines rustic charm with a contemporary touch of wabi-sabi. The solid blackened wooden trestles carrying the table top are pieces of primitive craftsmanship. The top shows burn marks, missing chips and other testimonies from it’s history, when french jewelers were working in their atelier on this table. Each worker sitting in one of the horseshoe cutouts.  The table has some burn marks too as goldsmiths at the end of the 19th century frequently used oil lamps, alcohol burners, or early gas blowpipes to solder joints or soften (anneal) precious metals like gold and silver.

The unusual shape with it’s semi circle cut-outs  combined with the weathered patina makes this piece ideal for a concrete minimalist space, a dining area in a country farmhouse or even a castle. It can seat easily 12 people for a dinner feast but the table might also work well as a presentation object. This unique table which might also appeal to the fans of wabi-sabi interiors, is robust and yet refined in it’s well-crafted details.

One of the trestle’s is missing a small bar of wood but this doesn’t affect the stability of the table. Further in good, patinated condition. We applied only some linseed oil to the wood to preserve the condition of the wood and enhance its natural appearance, because the wooden top had some serious drymarks after being stored away for years. This table truly feels like a ‘once in a lifetime’ kind of find.