Green Marble Console Table

A console is a piece of furniture that stands alone in an entrance hall or against a living room wall; so although its top is small, it is one of the most looked-at surfaces. In this work green marble was paired with a classically carved cream base. With brown and copper veins crossing a green ground, this stone has the character to carry the active surface of carved timber; a calm stone would have looked faded beside the same base.

The front corners of the top were turned with a generous radius and the edge profile finished at a softness close to the carved moulding of the base. In classic furniture, leaving the edge of the top sharp means two languages in conflict.

When working with a furniture maker the flow of measurements matters: the top is calculated to overhang the body of the base by a few centimetres and is fixed with spot adhesive. Spreading adhesive over the whole underside is not recommended, since it would restrict the moisture movement of the timber.

A polished finish gives this stone's veining its depth. In book-matched installation, two pieces set face to face like a mirror can produce a symmetrical pattern.