“Stop to appreciate this 18th-century table, where the cool luxury of marble meets the warm richness of mahogany, showcasing the era's blend of function and high style.”
This elegant marble-slab table, crafted around 1750, immediately draws the eye with its striking contrast between the cool, pale marble top and the rich, dark mahogany base. Its design reflects the sophisticated tastes of the mid-18th century, a period when furniture was not just functional but a statement of status and style. The substantial marble surface, likely imported, speaks to a desire for luxury and durability, while the mahogany, a prized wood for its strength and beautiful grain, forms a sturdy yet graceful foundation. This piece would have graced a prominent room in a grand home, perhaps serving as a display for porcelain or silver, or as a focal point in a receiving area. The craftsmanship, though from an unknown maker, clearly indicates a skilled artisan, creating a piece that balances robust construction with refined aesthetic appeal.
- Artist
- Artist Unknown - The Mercat Cross, Aberdeen
- Date
- 1750
- Medium
- Mahogany, white pine, and marble
- Location
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Dimensions
- 74.3 × 124.5 × 54.6 cm (29 1/4 × 49 × 21 1/2 in.)
- Collection
- Arts of the Americas
- Culture
- New York City
- Credit line
- Gift of Emily Crane Chadbourne
What to Notice
Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

Observe the smooth, cool surface of the marble top.
Note the deep, reddish-brown hue of the mahogany wood.
Look for the subtle grain patterns within the mahogany.
See how the table's legs taper elegantly towards the feet.
Stand in front of it and listen
The full narration walks you through Marble-slab Table — the story behind it, the details most visitors miss, and why it matters. Free in the Art Whisper app.
Artist Unknown - The Mercat Cross, Aberdeen
This 'Artist Unknown' represents a vast collection of anonymous creators, whose works like 'Boston Common' and 'Self Portrait' offer glimpses into diverse historical periods and artistic practices.
Further Works by Aberdeen
Southern Barbarians
1625 · Art Institute of Chicago
Baskets with Flowers of the Four Seasons
1701 · Art Institute of Chicago
Flower Arrangements
1595 · Art Institute of Chicago
Sketchbook: Souvenir of Naples
1821 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Five Points
1822 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Side Chair
1750 · Art Institute of Chicago
Pair of Side Chairs
1770 · Art Institute of Chicago
Punch Bowl
1789 · Art Institute of Chicago
More works to explore
Beyond Aberdeen: works from the same years.
Same era · 1730s–1760s
Portrait of Madame Anne-Jeanne Cassanéa de Mondonville, née Boucon (1708-1780)
Maurice Quentin de Latour · 1752 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1730s–1760s
Richard Walker (1679–1764), Vice-Master and Horticulturist
John Theodore Heins · 1751 · Trinity College
Same era · 1730s–1760s
Design for a Lampas Silk with a Triumphal Chariot on a Cloud
Philippe de la Salle · 1765 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1730s–1760s
Flying Figure Holding a Crown, Reclining River God
Jacques-Louis David · 1760 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1730s–1760s
Medal cabinet
William Vile · 1760 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1730s–1760s
Madonna and Child with Saints Peter and Paul
Stefano Mulinari · 1750 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1730s–1760s
Hunter with Hounds
Höchster Porzellan-Manufaktur · 1755 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1730s–1760s
Image of an Empire in Peace and Prosperity
Zhou Kun · 1745 · National Palace Museum
Same era · 1730s–1760s
Landscape
William Wooller · 1763 · Cleveland Museum of Art
Same era · 1730s–1760s
View of Ponte Lugano on the Anio, from Views of Rome
Giovanni Battista Piranesi · 1763 · Art Institute of Chicago
