19,612  PAGES BROWSED TODAY PAGES TODAY • 35 ANTIQUES UPLOADED TODAYNEW ARRIVALS
GIFTS
35 ITEMS ADDED TODAY
Sort Order
Items Per Page
Browse Categories
Sort order
Relevant Links
Items per page
ID #SA1029790
SOLD
Email Phone
Save
George III Mahogany Metamorphic Library Steps/table
Sold by W.R. Harvey & Co. (Antiques) Ltd
sold SA1029790
Sorry, but this item has been sold.
W.R. Harvey & Co. (Antiques) Ltd

W.R. Harvey & Co. (Antiques) Ltd

Sellingantiques Verified Since Sep 2016
Browse dealers 115 items
  • About Us
    Specialists in 17th-18th and early 19th century fine english furniture, art, clocks and other objets d'art
  • Trade Associations
    W.R. Harvey & Co. (Antiques) Ltd is a registered member of LAPADA 
Id #SA1029790
PDF SHARE
SAVE

George III Mahogany Metamorphic Library Steps/table

18th century
Sold 7 October 2025 · W.R. Harvey & Co. (Antiques) Ltd
This “George III Mahogany Metamorphic Library Steps/table” found a buyer.

It was listed by W.R. Harvey & Co. (Antiques) Ltd. Sold pieces stay on Sellingantiques as a record of what has passed through, and the next one is rarely far away.

Description

No: 11099 Meschain and Hervé

An unusual and rare George III mahogany metamorphic set of library steps, converting to a rectangular side table. The hinged top has a brass button releasing a folding set of library steps inset with gilt tooled leather inserts to the 6 treads, the whole raised on square section, chamfered legs.

Circa 1770

Price: £12,500-00p.

This piece featured in Harvey’s Summer Exhibition 1997 “Casing the Classics” and can be seen in a period Library setting. The catalogue was carried by World of Interiors magazine in the June 1997 edition.

Height: 28.3”, 72 cms / Height Opened: 49”, 125 cms / Width: 32.5”, 82.5 cms / Overall Width Opened: 49”, 125 cms / Depth: 19.5”, 49.5 cms

Francois Hervé was a Frenchman living and working in London during the last quarter of the 18th. Century. He appears to have been in partnership with another Frenchman, a Cabinet and Chair maker by the name of John Meschain. He supplied a set of chairs to Shelburne House in 1769. His premises at 32 John Street were taken over by Hervé in 1781. They appeared to have worked together during the 1770s as several sets of folding library steps inscribed with their names either on wooden or brass plaques exist. Hervé worked for a number of fashionable patrons. These included the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Bedford, Earl Spencer and the Duke of Devonshire. Indeed hewhom he supplied several suites of seating furniture at Chatsworth.

Literature: Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700 – 1840, Christopher Gilbert, Furniture History Society, 1996, Pages 34 & 40, Illustrations: Plates 185-188, 493/4 and 628-632.

The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterers Drawing-Book, Thomas Sheraton, 1793 plate 185, and Third Edition 1802, Appendix, pp 9-11, plate 9 and pp 42/43 plate 22.

“Casing the Classics” David Harvey, Exhibition Catalogue, Summer 1987 – The World of Interiors.

Physical Dimensions
Height
72cm (28.35")
Width
82.5cm (32.48")
Depth
49.5cm (19.49")
Declaration

W.R. Harvey & Co. (Antiques) Ltd has dated this George III Mahogany Library Steps Table to the 18th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1029790
Dealers Internal Reference
11099
Dealers Notes

We offer free delivery within the UK. For deliveries Worldwide, please contact us for a quote and we will get back to you within 12 hours.

If you would like to view the item in person, our showrooms are open Monday to Saturday 9.30 - 5.30 and by appointment on Sunday.

Any questions, please contact us as soon as possible. We will endeavour to get you an answer within 24 hours - and hopefully much quicker!

Description
No: 11099 Meschain and Hervé
“
An unusual and rare George III mahogany metamorphic set of library steps, converting to a rectangular side table.
W.R. Harvey & Co. (Antiques) Ltd

The hinged top has a brass button releasing a folding set of library steps inset with gilt tooled leather inserts to the 6 treads, the whole raised on square section, chamfered legs.

fig 1. An antique dark mahogany metamorphic library steps table with folded leather-insets treads and brass hardware.
fig 1. George III Mahogany Metamorphic Library Steps/table

Circa 1770

Price: £12,500-00p.

This piece featured in Harvey’s Summer Exhibition 1997 “Casing the Classics” and can be seen in a period Library setting. The catalogue was carried by World of Interiors magazine in the June 1997 edition.

fig 2. An antique dark mahogany metamorphic library steps table with folded leather-insets treads and brass hardware.
fig 2. George III Mahogany Metamorphic Library Steps/table

Height: 28.3”, 72 cms / Height Opened: 49”, 125 cms / Width: 32.5”, 82.5 cms / Overall Width Opened: 49”, 125 cms / Depth: 19.5”, 49.5 cms

Francois Hervé was a Frenchman living and working in London during the last quarter of the 18th. Century. He appears to have been in partnership with another Frenchman, a Cabinet and Chair maker by the name of John Meschain. He supplied a set of chairs to Shelburne House in 1769. His premises at 32 John Street were taken over by Hervé in 1781. They appeared to have worked together during the 1770s as several sets of folding library steps inscribed with their names either on wooden or brass plaques exist. Hervé worked for a number of fashionable patrons. These included the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Bedford, Earl Spencer and the Duke of Devonshire. Indeed hewhom he supplied several suites of seating furniture at Chatsworth.

fig 3. An antique dark mahogany metamorphic library steps table with folded leather-insets treads and brass hardware.
fig 3. George III Mahogany Metamorphic Library Steps/table

Literature: Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700 – 1840, Christopher Gilbert, Furniture History Society, 1996, Pages 34 & 40, Illustrations: Plates 185-188, 493/4 and 628-632.

The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterers Drawing-Book, Thomas Sheraton, 1793 plate 185, and Third Edition 1802, Appendix, pp 9-11, plate 9 and pp 42/43 plate 22.

“Casing the Classics” David Harvey, Exhibition Catalogue, Summer 1987 – The World of Interiors.

Height
72cm (28.35")
Width
82.5cm (32.48")
Depth
49.5cm (19.49")
Date of Manufacture

W.R. Harvey & Co. (Antiques) Ltd has dated this George III Mahogany Library Steps Table to the 18th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1029790
Dealers Internal Ref
11099
W.R. Harvey & Co. (Antiques) Ltd
W.R. Harvey & Co. (Antiques) Ltd
Sellingantiques verified Since Sep 2016

Specialists in 17th-18th and early 19th century fine english furniture, art, clocks and other objets d'art

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the W.R. Harvey & Co. (Antiques) Ltd Profile Page

Trade Associations

W.R. Harvey & Co. (Antiques) Ltd is a registered member of LAPADA 

PDF SHARE
SAVE
An antique dark mahogany metamorphic library steps table with folded leather-insets treads and brass hardware. SOLD6+ MONTHS AGO
1 / 11
Archive I An antique dark mahogany metamorphic library steps table with folded leather-insets treads and brass hardware. SOLD6+ MONTHS AGO

George III Mahogany Metamorphic Library Steps/table

Archive II An antique dark mahogany metamorphic library steps table with folded leather-insets treads and brass hardware. View II
Archive III An antique dark mahogany metamorphic library steps table with folded leather-insets treads and brass hardware. View III
Archive IV An antique dark mahogany metamorphic library steps table with folded leather-insets treads and brass hardware. View IV
Archive V An antique dark mahogany metamorphic library steps table with folded leather-insets treads and brass hardware. View V
Archive VI An antique dark mahogany metamorphic library steps table with folded leather-insets treads and brass hardware. View VI
Archive VII An antique dark mahogany metamorphic library steps table with folded leather-insets treads and brass hardware. View VII
Archive VIII An antique dark mahogany metamorphic library steps table with folded leather-insets treads and brass hardware. View VIII
Archive IX An antique dark mahogany metamorphic library steps table with folded leather-insets treads and brass hardware. View IX
Archive X An antique dark mahogany metamorphic library steps table with folded leather-insets treads and brass hardware. View X
Archive XI An antique dark mahogany metamorphic library steps table with folded leather-insets treads and brass hardware. View XI
Enlarged Archival View
Telephone 01993 706501
Location
86 Corn Street
Witney
Oxfordshire
OX28 6BU
United Kingdom
Verified Since Sep 2016
Items For Sale 115
Items Sold 548
W.R. Harvey & Co. (Antiques) Ltd
W.R. Harvey & Co. (Antiques) Ltd
Verified Since Sep 2016
View Dealer Info
Location: 86 Corn Street, Witney, Oxfordshire, OX28 6BU, United Kingdom
Verified
Sep 2016
For Sale
115
Sold
548
An antique dark mahogany metamorphic library steps table with folded leather-insets treads and brass hardware.
George III mahogany metamorphic library steps/table
Ref: SA1029790
An antique dark mahogany metamorphic library steps table with folded leather-insets treads and brass hardware.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Detail View 5
Detail View 6
Detail View 7
Detail View 8
Detail View 9
Detail View 10
Archival Detail
Every single antique dealer on our platform is individually approved by our internal team. We verify their professional trade history, ethical standards, and photographic quality to ensure a secure, high-standard buying environment. Upon joining, every dealer agrees to a strict 9-point code of conduct. While issues can occasionally arise, our dealers typically resolve them swiftly and directly with the buyer. In fact, since our founding in 2002, Sellingantiques has only had to step in to help resolve an issue on roughly five occasions—a true testament to the quality of our dealers and their dedication to your happiness.
Our dealers are highly experienced in packing and shipping fragile, high-value antiques. Because you are in direct contact with the dealer, you will be able to easily go through all available shipping and insurance options together to ensure your item arrives safely.
Antiques are the ultimate green purchase. By choosing historical pieces over newly manufactured goods, you completely eliminate the carbon footprint of modern mass production while preserving exceptional, timeless craftsmanship.
Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectLibrary Steps
  • Period18th century
  • StyleGeorgian
  • MaterialMahogany, Brass, Leather
  • ColourDark Brown
  • MotifsFold-out mechanism, Leather inset treads, Brass hinges, Straight legs
  • SizeH 72 cm (28 in) x W 82.5 cm (32 in) x D 49.5 cm (19 in)

A metamorphic library steps table is a piece of multi-functional 18th-century English furniture designed to fold or transform from a small table or stool into a flight of steps for reaching high bookshelves.

These pieces were typically crafted from dense hardwoods such as mahogany, frequently incorporating brass hinges, castors, and inset leather or velvet treads on the steps for secure footing.

Authentic examples feature period-appropriate joinery such as hand-cut dovetails, traditional patination on the wood, and original mechanical hinges that allow the folding mechanism to operate smoothly.

In contemporary spaces, this multi-functional object works well positioned near a bookcase or study wall, serving both as a practical tool and a sculptural display surface.

Maintain the timber by keeping it out of direct sunlight, avoiding excessive humidity fluctuations, and periodically applying quality beeswax to nourish the polished surface.
items
Add keywords to the filter
Price
£100
£250000
Era
Period
Style
Material
Origin
Stock Location
Recently Added
Online Payments
Categories