This piece is fundamentally an English-style cricket table, a centuries-old design valued for stability, simplicity, and durability. The solid oak, much of it locally sourced, is the usual material found in historical examples. Yet by marrying this time-honored structure with a trompe-l’œil marquetry design on the top, the table builds on tradition without being constrained by it. I particularly enjoy integrating marquetry into furniture so that it interacts with other elements of the design. In this case, that is the wing and shadow of the Blue Morpho crossing the inlaid walnut banding. The tension between the lightness and motion of butterflies and the weight and permanence of oak is central to the piece.
