Lot #1: Anglo-Indian Octagonal Bone-Inlay Table Punjab Arts & Crafts Depot British Empire Exhibition

Once-in-a-Lifetime opportunity to buy an Exhibition Piece from 1924 This exceptional octagonal occasional table is a fully documented exhibition piece produced in Lahore, Punjab (then British India), and officially displayed at the British Empire Exhibition, London, 1924. Its provenance is confirmed by the original paper exhibition label affixed to the underside of the tabletop and base—an increasingly rare survival in the field of Anglo-Indian furniture. Executed in the Mughal Revival tradition, the table is meticulously crafted with dense, hand-cut bone (historically ivory) inlay set into hardwood. The octagonal top features a finely balanced radiating rosette, encircled by precisely aligned vine and foliate motifs. The apron and legs incorporate pierced arches and repeating inlay patterns, directly referencing Indo-Islamic architectural forms and palace ornamentation. The table was produced under the auspices of the Punjab Arts & Crafts Depot, a government-supported colonial institution established to preserve and promote the highest standards of regional craftsmanship for international exhibition and export. Objects selected for the Wembley Exhibition were juried and curated, representing exemplary provincial design rather than mass-produced export wares. Surviving furniture from the 1924 British Empire Exhibition is uncommon; examples retaining their original exhibition labels are exceptionally rare. The catalogue reference number “A5B” further supports its inclusion within an official exhibition grouping, reinforcing its historical and curatorial significance. ⸻ Condition • Very good antique condition, consistent with age • Inlay largely intact with minor, honest wear • No structural repairs observed • Original patina preserved • Original exhibition label present, legible, and untouched (fragile) ⸻ Refined Market Evaluation (CAD) Based on comparable Anglo-Indian furniture with confirmed exhibition provenance:                   Pickup category timeslot {A}