The Bridge Table

The Design

The Victoria Falls Bridge Table, designed by Richard Lowe, but inspired by the world-famous Victoria Falls Bridge. The steel arch of the bridge is reflected in the elegant arched stretcher of this solid wood table. The angled legs of the table reflect the steel braces of the bridge. Topped off with a magnificent slab of two-inch-thick solid Zambezi Teak. Consequently, this hardwood table is a celebration of the exquisite skill of the master artisans who carefully handcraft it.

The Construction

The elegant curve of the stretcher is constructed from slices of Zambezi Teak, formerly known as Rhodesian teak. They are carefully laid one layer at a time over a special mold and clamped under high pressure for 48 hours. The result is a visually stunning solid arched beam that is virtually indestructible. The curved stretcher secures the uniquely splayed leg trusses of the table.

The leg trusses are hand built using a proprietary joint unique to The African Touch. As a result the integrity of the joints is ensured for all time. The solid hardwood top is assembled from carefully selected planks of Zambezi Teak heartwood. The individual timbers are laid out and carefully matched and marked. The sides are drilled and large dowels inserted. Planks are glued two at a time and clamped for twelve hours until the glue is rock hard. The process is repeated until the entire width of the table is laminated as one solid block of teak.

The Bridge solid wood dining table is simple to assemble. It is built in a knock down fashion to allow for easy transport and installation.

The Material we use

This is a hardwood table constructed from what we believe to be the finest hardwood available for furniture making. Zambezi Teak, formerly known as Rhodesian Teak. According to Rare Woods USA:

While not a true (Tectona genus) teak, Zambezi Teak shares a similar stability, durability and rot resistance. The heartwood is a reddish-brown colour, with prominent, irregular black lines and flecks. The sapwood is a pale muted pink and is clearly demarcated. In contrast to its “Genuine” counterpart, Zambezi Teak is an extremely dense hardwood. Despite its generally straight or slightly interlocked, finely-textured grains, this density makes the wood very difficult to work.

Uses of the Victoria Falls Bridge Table

The Bridge Hardwood Table is a statement piece. Therefore it will uplift the finest dining room, office or boardroom. The 4 meter version is particularly useful as a boardroom table. It has been used as signature piece in top lodges and restaurants, and partners perfectly with The Bridge Server or Selous Sideboard.

A short history of the Victoria Falls Bridge.

The Bridge hardwood table is based on the iconic Victoria Falls Bridge. For that reason a little history of that famous bridge may be in order. Most people in Southern Africa know that Cecil John Rhodes had a vision of joining Cape Town to Cairo with a rail line. This would become ‘the iron spine and ribs of Africa’. The mighty Zambezi River stood in the path of this great undertaking, and Rhodes determined: ‘Build the bridge across the Zambezi where the trains, as they pass, will catch the spray of the Falls’.

Rhodes died in 1902. He left the task of building the bridge to Sir Charles Metcalf, consultant engineer on the railway.

Designing the bridge.

The design was conducted by George Hobson of Sir Douglas Fox & Partners. This firm that later designed the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The bridge was designed as two cantilevers simultaneously built for either side of the gorge. The central span is a parabolic arched rib of 152.4 meters The height of this span 27.43 meters, and the bridge 125 meters above mean water level. On each side of the central span is a normal span. 19 meters on the west bank and 27 meters on the east.

Constructing the bridge.

The Cleveland Bridge Co. won the tender to build and install the bridge. A young French engineer, Georges Imbault, was appointed site engineer. Tough Scottish and Irish workers travelled from the UK to Cape Town and then on to Victoria Falls in March 1904.  Once the sections arrived building of this extraordinary engineering achievement went on apace. By March 1905 the two spans had come together. The engineering was so precise that Imbault calculated that the arch should be closed at 6.00 am with maximum spray from the Falls to cool the steel span sufficiently for the connection to be riveted in place. This was achieved on 1st April, 1905.