The Calcutta Reading Room Side Table

Period Inspiration:

This cane-topped side table belongs to the Anglo-Indian furniture tradition that developed in British India during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when European forms were adapted to colonial climates and patterns of use. Reading rooms and club interiors in cities such as Calcutta favoured furniture that was light in appearance, ventilated in construction, and suited to prolonged daily occupation.

The table is defined by its woven cane inset top, framed within a moulded hardwood surround. Cane surfaces were widely employed in colonial settings for their breathability and resistance to heat and humidity, making them especially appropriate for clubs, libraries, and verandahs. The proportions are deliberately compact, intended to sit beside lounge chairs or settees rather than function as a primary table.

Turned legs provide visual continuity with British furniture conventions, while their restrained profile reflects the utilitarian elegance favoured in institutional interiors such as reading rooms and clubs. The absence of ornament is purposeful: the design privileges durability, comfort, and ease of movement.

Understood within its proper context, this is an occasional side table - a functional companion piece associated with newspapers, books, tea service, or quiet conversation, and emblematic of the hybrid design language that characterised Anglo-Indian club furniture.

Material – Teak and Cane

Dimensions in Inches:
Width: 20 in
Depth: 20 in
Height: 20 in

Please note that each piece is handmade. There could be a slight variation (up to 2 inches) in dimensions.

Delivery Timeline - Every piece from The Collectors is crafted to order. Production and delivery typically require 4–6 weeks, with occasional extensions reflecting the care, materials, and finishing each object demands. 

Customisation – Please email us at hi@thecollectors.in or call at 9886331003, before placing the order, in case you want to customise the wood type, dimensions or polish.

The price mentioned includes all taxes and delivery.

Item code - TCAT08