The design of this table is visually simple, but it is a challenge to build. From the triple mitered corners, to the triangle joints of the drawer dividers, to the floating panel of the top, everything is designed to accommodate wood shrinkage. Its lines are quite stark, but its effect is actually soft, due to the rounded edges, curved intersections, and rounded panelling.
My idea for this game table was that it function as a display table as well as a surface for gaming. Beneath the glass is a well, formed by the moldings that support the glass. This creates visual interest from without and within, and can serve as a repository for a collection of small intriguing things.
This table is an early example of pieces I've made that resulted from an affection for Ming furniture. You can see it in the straightforward geometry, the handmade hardware, and the interplay of the burl top and plain grained framework. The fretwork below is my own addition, but I think it is in keeping with the spirit of early Chinese examples.
