Cleveland Museum of Art

Tea Table

Carlo Bugatti

Date

c. 1907

Medium

inlaid wood (mahogany?), cast and gilded bronze mounts, inlays of ivory or bone, metal, and mother-of-pearl (marine mussels or pearl oysters)

Culture

France, Paris

Department

Decorative Art and Design

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Luxurious materials might catch the eye first, but a closer look reveals the imaginary creatures that adorn the surface of this table. Featuring elaborate arches, a favorite motif that appeared throughout Bugatti's furniture, this fantastical imagery is a window into the designer's expressive imagination. Carlo Bugatti's sons achieved illustrious careers of their own. Rembrandt Bugatti (1884-1916) became a celebrated sculptor, and Ettore Bugatti (1881-1947) manufactured luxurious automobiles and racing cars.

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