Rosewood and Satinwood Corner Table

The interior of the house begins to reveal itself once inside the front door.  It may open up to a large reception area with marble floors and staircases sweeping up left and right to the floors above.  Not so in this house.  Visitors are greeted with a simple corner table, more space than form, with mirrors to augment the illusion.  A design attempt to marry two geometries, circle and octagon.  And two species of wood that have been seen together historically, especially in august dining tables, rosewood and satinwood.  The rosewood veneer was all but abandoned.  Dry, brittle, cockled and very, very dusty.  Judicious dampening and careful pressing got it back to reasonably flat and usable.  The long strips used to veneer the maple legs was straightforward.  The segments on the top, not so much.  The bees wing satinwood veneer was kind and gentle.  Gold leaf finishes the reduced octagon bases of the legs.  Of course, since a table can’t stand on only two legs, the wall lends a hand.