de Le Cuona | African Engraved Table XL No. 16 – Dark Brown

The African Engraved Table is a piece we think of as sculpture first and furniture second. This is the XL size, finished in Dark Brown, and the engraved surface is what gives it its character. Rather than relying on colour or pattern printed onto a top, the decoration is cut into the material, so the light does the work. It catches in the grooves differently from morning to evening, and the surface reads as texture at a distance and as something closer to a drawing when you stand over it.

We have been given the design, size, colour and reference number for this table: African Engraved Table XL, No. 16, in Dark Brown, from de Le Cuona. We have not been given dimensions, materials or the finish specification, so we would rather not guess at them here. Please ask us and we will confirm exact height, diameter or footprint, weight and construction before you order, and we can send a sample of the finish where one is available. Check those figures against your room before committing.

We tend to use a table of this scale where a smaller one would look apologetic. Beside a deep sofa it works as a proper surface for a lamp, a book and a glass, rather than something to lean over. In a hall it can take a large bowl or an arrangement of branches and anchor a wall that would otherwise feel empty. We would pair it with plain, soft upholstery in oatmeal or stone linen, so the engraving remains the one decorative note, and with a low, quiet lamp rather than anything sculptural of its own.

Before it arrives, measure the route into the room as well as the space it will occupy, since an XL piece can be awkward through narrow doorways and turns on stairs. Decide where it will sit and leave it there, as pieces with a carved or engraved surface look best when they are not shuffled about. Keep it away from radiators and strong direct sun. For care, we would dust it with a soft dry cloth and ask us for the maker's guidance before using any polish or cleaner in the engraved lines.