Shapely Legs
The other day Ramana wrote about his favourite chair. In the post not alone did we see photos of it, we also saw a picture of the younger man and his beautiful late wife Urmeela. We learned a little more about their life together as well as the history of the piece of furniture.
In true Ramana fashion, he threw down the gauntlet and asked if we had a favourite piece of furniture to show & share….
My special treasure has shapely legs…
It was purchased as a gift before I was even a gleam in my father’s eye. It was a gift for a woman. A woman I never had the opportunity to meet. The fact that she loved and cared for it was enough for me. It may be my treasure at the moment, but I am really a temporary guardian until the day when I pass it on to the next generation.
It arrived into its first home in several pieces and when put together there were no nails needed. Wooden dowels were the means of locking the sections together.
It is an occasional table. A very, very unusual occasional table. The wood is dark but not ebony. Each of the four legs is carved into the shape of an elephants head with added eyes and tusks in ivory.
Alas, one of my predecessors was not over fond of the table and made it the home for an indoor plant that was housed in a heavy black metal three legged pot, the type used in Ireland for cooking on open fires many generations earlier. The legs of the pot caused irreparable damage to the inlaid Ivory on the table top.
The weight was in the table top which was all one piece. The legs were attached to the underside of the top and to four connecting cross bars with a central decoration like a little wooden dish. At the edge of this dish were four shapes that look like snake heads.
Is that a pineapple sitting in the end of the trunk?
A little detail of the ivory:
The table was purchased by Jack during his war time service in India, before he moved on to Burma. He had it sent home to his beloved mother in the North East of England. I am sure that when the parcel arrived it was rather a shock, firstly to receive such a gift but it would also be an indication for his parents as to what country he was in. Back then letters home were not alone very slow, but censored and no mention of where the sender was stationed was allowed. Unlike today, where those at war have mobile phone and email access with their families, back then families did not know where their loved ones were.
Jack told me a story once in the wee small hours of the morning, when the ghosts of torment and nightmares wander achingly through the dark, that his mother sat up in bed one night and shouted to his father “Something has happened Our john!”. The story was confirmed at a later stage by his aunt who also added that on that night Clara’s (Jack’s mother) hair turned white. It was months before they were told that he was injured and back in hospital in Lincolnshire, England many miles away from home.
Nick said,
July 14, 2009 at 8:20 am
That’s a remarkable bit of furniture, very beautiful. We don’t have anything as special as that. An interesting story about the night Jack was injured. I don’t have much time for psychics but I do believe in telepathy and ESP and I know that sort of premonition happens often.
Rhyleysgranny said,
July 14, 2009 at 9:47 am
Oh I felt the creeps down my back at that story. My Mother in law has a similar table sent home by my father in law during the war . He also served in Burma. Coincidence yes? Wouldn’t it be strange if they knew each other? I think the table is lying neglected in her roof space. You have jogged my memory to ask her about it as I always loved it.
Kate said,
July 14, 2009 at 11:55 am
That is beautiful, I have a friend who collects ‘elephant furniture’ !
I do believe in esp - my mother and I made use of it often!!
Magpie11 said,
July 14, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Lady Magpie’s Mother has a similar table…her father was a medic on Troop transports and went all over…The Atlantic North Africa and the Med and the Pacific… I wonder?
The story about Jack’s Mother rang a bell… I was with my first Girlfriend one evening when she suddenly cried out and started to cry. “They hurt her!”… her Grandmother was in Hospital and had just had to be rushed to theatre for emergency surgery at that exact time. We were at the opposite end of Norfolk to her Grandmother.
I’ll pop over to R. and perhaps take up his challenge myself.
Grannymar said,
July 14, 2009 at 2:26 pm
@Nick - If I had to leave this house and only take one piece of furniture, that would be it. Mind you, I don’t think I would carry it very far as it is so heavy.
@Rhyleysgranny - Glad to jog the memory. Jack did mention only one man from Belfast and he was called Paddy. Jack looked him up when he came here at first, but the friendship was not rekindled.
@Kate - My esp can be scary at times, so I like to make contact with the person that I have been thinking about.
@Magpie - I look forward to your story.
rummuser said,
July 14, 2009 at 2:33 pm
The minute I saw the photograph, I knew that it was Indian and at least fifty years old. The chances are that he would have bought it either at Calcutta or Bombay, and very likely the piece is from Kerala.
I have two more antique pieces that I acquired from my mentor and great friend who was in what was then Rhodesia before he came down to India. One is a chest of drawers with a swinging Belgian mirror which is still as good as new and another, an occasional table. He gifted them to me along with two massive cushioned arm chairs when he left India. The chairs after serving us for over near thirty years after already having served him for thirty years, finally made room for our newer sofa set. The two remaining pieces will always be treasured and as you say, passed on to the next generation.
Grannymar said,
July 14, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Ramana,
I know that it was purchased in India but have no idea of where. Your two pieces sound very interesting…..
Do I detect another post?
rummuser said,
July 14, 2009 at 5:03 pm
May be sometime in the future. I now have to post about the good wife, after I read Paddy’s latest!
Betty said,
July 14, 2009 at 9:29 pm
What a beautiful, unusual table! I believe in ESP, too. I have it and so did my grandmother. It skipped my mother’s generation.
Grannymar said,
July 14, 2009 at 9:33 pm
@Ramana - Are you match making for Paddy B now?
@Betty - Thank you, I do love the table.
bikehikebabe said,
July 14, 2009 at 10:02 pm
I love your table. You are probably the only person who sees the “irreparable damage” to the top.
Conrad said,
July 14, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Love the table! But, it’s the last part of the story that really catches me, the way it was used to indicate a secret message of location.
Today I’ve learned something, so now I can go party without guilt!
Baino said,
July 14, 2009 at 11:20 pm
What a conversation piece and what a story. I don’t have a ‘favourite’ chair, just the corner of a sofa. I do have an old desk that my grandad made and a beautiful Queen Anne chair with little cherubs carved into it .. must get it recovered . . it’s in that awful 70’s olive green!
Paddy Bloggit said,
July 15, 2009 at 12:44 am
Most of my furniture is from Argos ….. home delivery. No special pieces here but perhaps the new spot may get a chunky piece or two!
A rocking chair might be nice ……
wisewebwoman said,
July 15, 2009 at 1:51 am
Beautiful piece and lovely story, GM!
XO
WWW
rummuser said,
July 15, 2009 at 6:52 am
Grannymar, if you could not do it for so long, what chance do I have? No, I am not into matchmaking for Paddy or anyone. I value my reputation too much to lose it by a wrong selection suggested!
Grannymar said,
July 15, 2009 at 10:28 am
@BHB - Quite probably!
@Conrad - Enjoy the party.
@Baino - I am sure there is a story in the dest… if not a secret drawer!
@Paddy B - Now is the time to watch out and plan for the special pieces of furniture.
@WWW - Thanks!
@Ramana - My days of matchmaking are over. 6 Matches are my record!
Ashok said,
July 15, 2009 at 10:16 pm
I immediately had a feeling of he furniture being Indian the moment I saw it and quite an interesting story too. It often comes accross to my imagination that I have already been to a place even thoughts is for the first time. In other instances it feels like I have already been in a conversation or a particular situation even thought it happen for a first time. Somethings cannot be explained.
Maynard said,
July 15, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Grannym, a beautiful piece of furniture. I collect elephants. You may wake up one day and find it gone, but if I were you, I would blame BHB!
bikehikebabe said,
July 15, 2009 at 11:51 pm
Yes, that could happen. I have an elephant collection of 12. (Buddhas too) Mine are carved ivory from Sumatra. where my parents lived for 3 years & I was born.– How did you know, Maynard?
Grannymar said,
July 16, 2009 at 9:01 am
@Ashok - Your ESP is well tuned!
@Maynard - Welcome to the party. I hope you will return and join in the banter. My table is very heavy and not an easy one to steal.
Do you keep the elephants facing into the room? I once heard that it was unlucky to have them looking towards the door.
@BHB - You must have a large home to house 12 elephants!
Do they have names?
Maria said,
July 16, 2009 at 4:59 pm
What fun. I have read all the comments and looked at the photos and find your table and its history fascinating. I once heard that elephant figurines with the trunks up brought good luck, but ones with their trunks down brought bad luck. This story was told to me years ago when i was still in college and the person who told it to me was a student from Turkey.
Grannymar said,
July 16, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Maria,
I never heard about the direction of the elephants trunks before, Perhaps Ramana or Ashok, both from India can let us know.
rummuser said,
July 16, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Maria, in one word - Rubbish!
I am an Indian and worship a God called Ganesha who has a human body and the face of an elephant. His trunk is never raised. The position of the trunk has nothing to do with luck or otherwise. What will Turks know about elephants? Must have been trying to impress you.
Maria said,
July 16, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Rubbish! In the U.S. we would not be so polite, we would say “Bull Shit! Thank you so much for your comment. I shudder to think that I have passed this nonsense on to others in light and meaningless conversation, but I loved my Turkish friend and I will always remember her little story. . . which is not much different than our American myth of believing a rabbit’s foot will bring good luck. Obviously, not good luck in the eyes of the rabbit.
I consider myself a spiritual person, but I am not terribly religious. I do like learning about other’s beliefs so I will respectfully look for information about Ganesha. Sharing ideas through blogging is a wonderful eye-opener and makes our worlds come together one person at a time.
Grannymar said,
July 16, 2009 at 6:47 pm
@Ramana - Thank you for replying so promptly. Perhaps at a future date you might tell us in a blog post a little more about Ganesha.
@Maria - in the time I have known Ramana he has always shown respect and courteousness for others. His blog is well worth a visit.
Maria said,
July 17, 2009 at 3:54 am
I am sorry if I left the impression that I thought Raman was anything but respectful and courteous. That is not my style and I do apologize if my remarks came across that way. Meanwhile, I have taken the time to visit his wonderful site and enjoyed reading about three of his posts.
Grannymar said,
July 17, 2009 at 7:12 am
Maria,
I apologise. The fault was mine, by wording my comment badly. I was actually agreeing that Ramana, like you, was always courteous and respectful on all the blogs he visits.
Maria said,
July 17, 2009 at 3:47 pm
GrannyMar,
Sometimes the first thought is the best. I read your reply and thought, “I love you, GrannyMar!” Now don’t laugh at me for my silliness. It is such a beautiful morning and I feel so good.
rummuser said,
July 18, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Maria, ‘Rubbish’ was not about your comment. It was about the idea that a raised or lowered trunk of an elephant could have something to do with luck! I quite appreciate your take on my comment and compliment you on your response. Now, you have gone and given me a problem. I can not say no to Grannymar and I have to now post on Ganesha!
rummuser said,
July 18, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Maria, Please forgive me for not mentioning this earlier. Thanks for visiting my blog. Please feel free to comment. I enjoy reading other people’s views on my posts.
Maria said,
July 18, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Ramana,
I have created a most delightful problem since I am sure that many of your readers will want to read about Ganesha. The song from Sound of Music - “”How do you solve a problem like Maria? is buzzing around in my head. So after the count of 1,2, 3, let us, you and Mar and me, harmonize the chorus. Thank you very much for your comments and for the invitation to continue to visit and comment on your blog.
Grannymar said,
July 18, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Maria,
I have spent 5 minutes gargling with vinegar
and am now ready to sing!
rummuser said,
July 19, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Ganesha incidentally is a problem solver! You will discover all about him in my forthcoming post.
Vinegar or no vinegar, I just croak.
Grannymar said,
July 19, 2009 at 3:34 pm
@Ramana - Nice one!
Paddy Bloggit said,
July 22, 2009 at 1:06 am
What a kerfuffle ….. now where did I leave my bata!
Grannymar said,
July 22, 2009 at 10:52 am
Paddy,
The only sticks allowed around here are…. shapely legs!
Leveraged Intelligence » Ganesha’s Little Brother – Tony said,
July 22, 2009 at 10:59 am
[...] an anarchist, Ramana caused a stir over at Grannymar’s blog and then had to repair the rift in the universal fabric by doing the piece on Ganesha on his [...]
Grannymar » Back Scratching! said,
July 23, 2009 at 7:08 am
[...] all began with ‘Ramana the anarchist’, causing a stir here on my blog, about my shapely legs! For penance I set him a task to give us an essay on Ganesha on his blog. Off he went with his [...]
Nicola said,
July 28, 2009 at 11:03 pm
I can’t believe it - I have a table almost exactly the same as this! The inlaid ivory in the top is identical as are the “pineapple” bits. The elephants heads are a little bigger on mine tho. The story behind mine is that my grandad was in the merchant navy during the 40’s and 50’s and he bought it back from a trip to India. I then inherited it when my grandmother died and think it is so beautiful. Apparently my gran used to use brown boot polish to look after it!
Grannymar said,
July 28, 2009 at 11:25 pm
Welcome Nicola!
It seems from the comments above that these tables are quite common. I do love the table and treat it about once a year with Teak oil that I apply with a soft toothbrush. I usually do this outdoors in summertime.
Elizabeth said,
August 6, 2009 at 10:48 pm
My Aunt just gave me this tables’ twin!!
I doubt it’s the same one seeing this was posted this month, but I can’t wait to get home to see the top. My table has been repaired in a few spots, a nail here and there. I also think someone tried to stain it or something because some of the elephants’ head are darker then other spots.
The little old lady (in Palm Spring CA)who gave it to my Aunt thought it was over 100yrs. old.
Grannymar said,
August 6, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Welcome Elizabeth to my blog. These elephant tables are popping up everywhere and seem to be the original flat pack furniture, long before IKEA!
Enjoy!