The Chandigarh Secretariat Cane-Top Coffee Table

Period Inspiration:

This coffee table draws its lineage from the furniture developed in the early 1950s for the administrative buildings of Chandigarh, the new capital conceived in the years following Indian Independence. During this period, Pierre Jeanneret, working alongside Indian craftsmen, evolved a furniture language that was austere, functional, and deeply responsive to local conditions.

The present table reflects those principles with precision. Its low, rectilinear form echoes the sober geometry of the Chandigarh Secretariat interiors, where furniture was conceived as architectural equipment rather than decoration. The solid wood frame establishes visual weight and permanence, while the woven cane top introduces porosity, ventilation, and tactility - an intelligent adaptation to the subcontinental climate and a respectful incorporation of indigenous craft traditions.

Angled legs provide structural stability and visual tension, recalling the disciplined joinery found across Jeanneret’s institutional furniture. The cane surface, set within a wooden rebate, is not ornamental but functional: resilient, breathable, and easily repairable. Such tables were intended for daily use in offices, lounges, and administrative waiting areas - objects of quiet service rather than domestic indulgence.

Neither nostalgic nor ornamental, this table stands as a material document of modernism’s translation in India: rigorous European planning tempered by local skill, climate, and economy. It is a piece defined by restraint, proportion, and ethical design thinking.

Material – Pure Teak and Cane

Dimensions in Inches:

Length: 36
Width: 20
Height: 19

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 - TCCT07