Gifts
Rare Handmade Mid Century Coffee Table Made Of Samaan Wood In 1960s Trinidad West Indies By Vlastaslav Kacal
Gt Missenden, United Kingdom
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Item details
Height
43.0 cm
Width
51.0 cm
Depth
107.0 cm
Wear conditions
Excellent
Wear conditions
Excellent
Shows little to no signs of wear and tear.
Good
May show slight traces of use in keeping with age. Most vintage and antique items fit into this condition.
Average
Likely to show signs of some light scratching and ageing but still remains in a fair condition.
Apparent Wear and Tear
Visible signs of previous use including scratches, chips or stains.
Please refer to condition report, images or make a seller enquiry for additional information.
Description
The table top sits on elegant turned legs and stretchers.
Made by leading furniture designer and producer Vlastaslav Kacal in Trinidad in the 1960s, this solid wood coffee table was crafted from a beautiful piece of Samaan wood.
Kacal produced furniture and decorative pieces throughout the 50s 60s and 70s in a range of locally available woods. Samaan was particularly used for its excellent graining and sustainability - it grows quickly and to huge size.
This piece was made at the height of Kacal’s success – in 1962 he created key pieces to furnish the Presidential House and other leading establishments as well as having a retail shop “Kacal Artists in Wood” at the Trinidad Hilton. With his two sons, Vlad and Jan, who joined the firm he was well connected with all the leading Trinidadian artists of the day.
It has been re oiled and re waxed to preserve and bring out the natural beauty of the wood. The top, as the photos show, is free from scratches and bashes. It can be easily looked after - as it is not a veneer, so sanding and reoiling is an easy task.
Partly worn stamp underside reads “V Kacal Trinidad B.W.I.” (British West Indies).
Samaan, or Saman, is also known as the Rain Tree and is much-loved across the Tropics and Central/ South East Asia for providing an enormous, flowering, canopy of shade.
Height: 43cm
Width: 51cm
Length: 107cm
Happy to answer any questions.
NOTE: There is an interesting Facebook page about Kacal Woodwork offering photos and further information about the business. This page is run by Edward, Vastaslav's grandson, who has helpfully confirmed the table’s provenance. Further background on Samaan wood and the family in Edward's words are quoted below.
"Samaan was introduced in Trinidad by the British in the 1800s from the far East, India maybe, and were used as shade trees, because they become giants, covering over half an acre with speckled shade for parks and large buildings.
The stamp is V. Kacal, and it would have been Vlastaslav, my grandfather, who was a Czech immigrant, having come to Trinidad with Bata in the 1930's. The woodworking started in the 1940s and the first customers were American G.I.s based here. My father Vlad took over in the 1970s and stopped using the stamp. Trinidad was no longer termed as BWI - British West indies anymore by then. The main factory finally closed in 1990, but my dad continued to do small work until about 1996 or so".
With huge thanks to Edward Kacal and the Facebook user who pointed us in his direction in the first place as we originally understood the wood to be elm, and could not identify the maker.
Cancellations
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Returns
We have a 14-day return guarantee for orders from individual sellers, within the UK and European Union. View full policy.
This item will be delivered by Vinterior's delivery partner, Proovia. Find out more about Proovia and delivery at Vinterior here.
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- Selling at Vinterior since 2024
- 18 sales
- Ships from Gt Missenden, United Kingdom
Cancellations and Returns
Last updated: 17th October 2024
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