Footnotes

• Provenance: Exhibited at The British Guiana and West Indian Exhibition 1885, Georgetown, British Guiana, 1885;
  Exhibited at The Colonial and Indian Exhibition, South Kensington, London, 1886.
  Purchased by the current owner's mother approximately 30 years ago at a British antiques fair.
  
  Very little is known about The British Guiana and West Indian Exhibition of 1885. It was held in Georgetown, Demerara, British Guiana and like every other exhibition of the time it displayed a wide range of the best local products. The exhibition was held by the Royal Agricultural and Commercial Society of British Guiana, a copy of the pamphlet of 1884 outlining the categories and prizes can be found in the collection of the Royal Commonwealth Society Library, Cambridge University Library.
  
  The booklet is titled 'Address of the Committee of The British Guiana and West Indian Exhibition' and begins:
  
  The Committee appointed to carry out arrangements for holding the British Guiana and West Indian Exhibition at Georgetown, in the autumn of 1885, invite the hearty co-operation of all classes interested in the welfare of the Colony, especially as it is hoped that from the specimens of the products and manufactures of British Guiana then brought together, a collection worthy of this large and important Colony may be forwarded to the Colonies Exhibition to be held in the following year
  
  It goes on to state that:
  
  The Committee wish it to be understood that any exhibit of British Guianan origin or manufacture may be retained and sent by the Committee to the Colonies Exhibition to be held in London in 1886; and at the option of the exhibitor, any article so retained may either be bought by the Committee and exhibited in their name, or may be exhibited by the Committee in the name of the owner.
  
  Page 18 lists Class VII as the category of Arts and Manufactures. The sub-categories of item 11 for The best piece of Cabinet work of indigenous or West India wood, had a prize of $15, Item 14, The best specimen of local or West Indian Turning, had a prize of $10 and Item 15, The best specimen of Inlaid Wood work with a prize of $15. It is not clear from the label which sub-category that this table was entered into. The creation of a table like this was not necessarily decorative, but served to display and test the exotic timbers for suitability to the international markets.
  
  The Colonial and Indian Exhibition held at South Kensington, London in 1886, including exhibits from the earlier British Guiana and West Indian Exhibition of 1885 was organised by the Prince of Wales and the Royal Commission. The exhibition was open for 164 days and welcomed 5,559,745 visitors.
  
  In The Colonial and Indian Exhibition, 1886, handbook and catalogue, The West Indies and British Honduras : Issued under the authority of Sir Augustus Adderley, (published by William Clowes & Sons), there contains a chapter listing the Tobago exhibits.
  
  The above lot is recorded on page 88, under Class 6, no. 12:, with its pair (whereabouts unknown),
  
  (a) Pair of tables in many native woods, exhibited by Hon E. Keens
  
  The Hon. Edward Keens was a member of Tobago's Legislative Council having been appointed in 1881. Keens also exhibited (b) Set woods for furniture in the same category, 11 (b) Set of woods for cooper's work, 13. Woods for building purposes, 14. Woods for mill and cart work and 15. Woods for tool maker's work.
  
  In the illustration preceding the Tobago entry the pair of tables can be seen in an engraving of The Tobago Court, (see illustration).