Elmwood Altar Table

Readily available and durable, the northern elmwood used to make this 19th-century altar table has an even grain and color that enabled artisans to employ sophisticated joinery, piecing the table together without benefit of glue or nails. This time-honored method of construction, largely hidden from view, enabled woodworkers to create a seamless design that beautifully unites form and function. Distinguished by its refined hoof feet and open, articulated apron, the table once played host to the offerings and ritual elements used to honor ancestors.