This beautifully carved teakwood writing
table, belonging to the 18th century was received by the museum as a
gift from Prof. Chandabhai Amiruddin Muchhala, a Professor in the
Bharatiya Vidyabhavan, Bombay, in 1961.
|
This piece of furniture adorns the study or office room. The
carpenter-artist carver has designed this writing table to accommodate
many things in its small compartments. On its left side, there is a
beautiful carved door behind which there are four drawers. Required
items of stationery can be kept in this. In the upper part, there is a
secret drawer, so intricately designed that, when pulled out fully, the
cavity is perfectly closed so much so that even an insect is not able to
enter it. In this drawer which can be pulled out, writing material and
implements like pen and inkpot can be placed. These drawers are so
planned that the user is not inconvenienced. In the upper-most part, a
compartment with a slanting top is provided to facilitate writing. When
this cover is opened, behind the larger drawer, are other three smaller
drawers in which letters, envelopes and such postal stationery can be
stored. While designing this desk, the functional aspect has been taken
care of by giving it an artistic touch. On the top, over a carved arch,
there is a small book-stand to hold books for ready-reference. Behind
this, in the centre, a lion and floral decorations enhance the beauty.
The front two legs of the desk have excellent carvings which are hollow
from within. (But at present these are fragmented). On the cover which
folds in the front, except the space for writing, every inch of the desk
is fully carved. The front of the foot-rest has carvings of birds,
flowering-creepers as decoration on both the sides.
|
