Hampi Tables

The Vijayanagar empire reigned over the south of India for over three centuries during the medieval period. Ruling in parallel to the Mughal empire in the north, they had their capital in Hampi, which is located in present day Karnataka. Hampi (currently a UNESCO world heritage site) is home to several well-preserved examples of the Vijayanagar architectural style, which represents an amalgamation and extension of the best features of South Indian temple architecture. The series of “Hampi” tables presented here, are inspired by a special feature of Vijayanagara architecture- the use of decorative stone columns in large temple halls. Particularly, the stone columns in the Hazara Rama temple, the small but exquisite temple that was the private place of worship for the king and the royal family.
The tradition of toy making in Karnataka began in the mid eighteenth century, when Tippu Sultan, the ruler of Mysore invited Persian artisans to share the art of lacquerware with local wood workers in the little town of Channapatna. The brilliantly coloured and well-crafted wooden horses, elephants, dolls and other toys have since become an intrinsic part of childhood in this part of the world. In 2005, Channapatna toys received a geographical indication (GI) tag in recognition of their distinctive craft and origin.
These two iconic pieces of Karnataka culture are brought together in the Hampi series of tables. The series comprises of four rounded tables that reflect the grace of the Hampi temple columns and a shorter square topped table that evokes their load bearing strength. A combination of lathe and CNC, with a high gloss PU was used to create a finish reminiscent of the saturated rich lacquer of Channapatna toys. The table-tops are made of natural materials like wood and stone.
This bold design evolved from a conviction that design and culture are intrinsically intertwined, as are past and present, and it showcases some of the unique artistic contributions from the state of Karnataka.