What characterises a 19th-century French games table?

Nineteenth-century French games tables are versatile pieces of occasional furniture designed for leisure, featuring specialized playing surfaces for cards, chess, or backgammon, often decorated with intricate parquetry or marquetry techniques.

Which materials were traditionally used in French parquetry card tables?

These tables typically feature high-grade timber veneers such as burr walnut, kingwood, or rosewood arranged in geometric parquetry patterns, accented with cast gilt-bronze mounts and interior leather or baize surfaces.

How can an authentic 19th-century French games table be identified?

Authentic period pieces exhibit hand-cut dovetail joints, natural wood oxidisation inside internal compartments or fold-out mechanisms, detailed cast bronze mounts with hand-chased details, and traditional French polish finishes.

How can an antique French card table be styled in a contemporary interior?

Position the table as a refined side table or console in a living area or study, layering modern lighting or sculptural ceramics on top while allowing the cabriole legs to create an elegant focal point.

How should burr walnut parquetry furniture be maintained?

Keep the timber away from direct heat sources and sunlight to prevent veneer movement or fading, dust regularly with a soft dry cloth, and apply a high-quality beeswax polish annually to maintain the moisture and surface lustre.

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Antique French Burr Walnut Parquetry Card Backgammon Table 19th Century

Name: Antique French Burr Walnut Parquetry Card Backgammon Table 19th Century
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1043346
Availability: SoldOut

19th century

Sold by Regent Antiques

Description

A truly fabulous antique French parquetry turnover top games table, circa 1880 in date.

The top with ormolu banded edge, the parquetry decoration exhibits a stunning array of exotic woods.

The attractive ormolu mounts only enhance the overall appearance of this superb piece of French craftsmanship. The table is raised on cabriole legs with ormolu mounts and feet.

The top opens to reveal a baize lined interior for playing cards, you then swivel the top to reveal the backgammon table.

Condition:

In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned, polished and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 78 cm x Width 82 cm x Depth 59 cm

Dimensions in inches:

Height 2 foot, 7 inches x Width 2 foot, 8 inches x Depth 1 foot, 11 inches

Parquetry -

is a geometric mosaic of wood pieces used for decorative effect. The two main uses of parquetry are as veneer patterns on furniture and block patterns for flooring. Parquetry patterns are entirely geometrical and angular—squares, triangles, lozenges.

The word derives from the Old French parchet , literally meaning "a small enclosed space". Large diagonal squares known as parquet de Versailles were introduced in 1684 as parquet de menuiserie to replace the marble flooring that required constant washing, which tended to rot the joists beneath the floors.

Such parquets en lozange were noted by the Swedish architect Daniel Cronström at Versailles and at the Grand Trianon in 1693. Timber contrasting in color and grain, such as oak, walnut, cherry, lime, pine, maple etc. are sometimes employed; and in the more expensive kinds the tropical hardwoods are also used.

Ormolu - (from French 'or moulu', signifying ground or pounded gold) is an 18th-century English term for applying finely ground, high-carat gold in a mercury amalgam to an object of bronze.The mercury is driven off in a kiln leaving behind a gold-coloured veneer known as 'gilt bronze'.

The manufacture of true ormolu employs a process known as mercury-gilding or fire-gilding, in which a solution of nitrate of mercury is applied to a piece of copper, brass, or bronze, followed by the application of an amalgam of gold and mercury. The item was then exposed to extreme heat until the mercury burned off and the gold remained, adhered to the metal object.

After around 1830 because legislation had outlawed the use of mercury other techniques were used instead. Electroplating is the most common modern technique. Ormolu techniques are essentially the same as those used on silver, to produce silver-gilt..

Our reference: A3623

Physical Dimensions

Height

78cm (30.71")

Width

82cm (32.28")

Depth

59cm (23.23")

Declaration

Regent Antiques has dated this Burr Walnut Games Table to the 1880s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1043346

Dealers Internal Reference

A3623

Description

A truly fabulous antique French parquetry turnover top games table, circa 1880 in date.

The top with ormolu banded edge, the parquetry decoration exhibits a stunning array of exotic woods.

“

The attractive ormolu mounts only enhance the overall appearance of this superb piece of French craftsmanship.

Regent Antiques

The table is raised on cabriole legs with ormolu mounts and feet.

fig 1. A nineteenth-century French burr walnut games table featuring a geometric parquetry inlaid top, scalloped apron, cabriole legs, and gilt bronze corner mounts. — fig 1. Antique French Burr Walnut Parquetry Card Backgammon Table 19th Century

The top opens to reveal a baize lined interior for playing cards, you then swivel the top to reveal the backgammon table.

Condition:

In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned, polished and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.

fig 2. A nineteenth-century French burr walnut games table featuring a geometric parquetry inlaid top, scalloped apron, cabriole legs, and gilt bronze corner mounts. — fig 2. Antique French Burr Walnut Parquetry Card Backgammon Table 19th Century

Dimensions in cm:

Height 78 cm x Width 82 cm x Depth 59 cm

Dimensions in inches:

Height 2 foot, 7 inches x Width 2 foot, 8 inches x Depth 1 foot, 11 inches

Parquetry -

is a geometric mosaic of wood pieces used for decorative effect. The two main uses of parquetry are as veneer patterns on furniture and block patterns for flooring. Parquetry patterns are entirely geometrical and angular—squares, triangles, lozenges.

The word derives from the Old French parchet , literally meaning "a small enclosed space". Large diagonal squares known as parquet de Versailles were introduced in 1684 as parquet de menuiserie to replace the marble flooring that required constant washing, which tended to rot the joists beneath the floors.

fig 4. A nineteenth-century French burr walnut games table featuring a geometric parquetry inlaid top, scalloped apron, cabriole legs, and gilt bronze corner mounts. — fig 4. Antique French Burr Walnut Parquetry Card Backgammon Table 19th Century

Such parquets en lozange were noted by the Swedish architect Daniel Cronström at Versailles and at the Grand Trianon in 1693. Timber contrasting in color and grain, such as oak, walnut, cherry, lime, pine, maple etc. are sometimes employed; and in the more expensive kinds the tropical hardwoods are also used.

fig 5. A nineteenth-century French burr walnut games table featuring a geometric parquetry inlaid top, scalloped apron, cabriole legs, and gilt bronze corner mounts. — fig 5. Antique French Burr Walnut Parquetry Card Backgammon Table 19th Century

Ormolu - (from French 'or moulu', signifying ground or pounded gold) is an 18th-century English term for applying finely ground, high-carat gold in a mercury amalgam to an object of bronze.The mercury is driven off in a kiln leaving behind a gold-coloured veneer known as 'gilt bronze'.

fig 6. A nineteenth-century French burr walnut games table featuring a geometric parquetry inlaid top, scalloped apron, cabriole legs, and gilt bronze corner mounts. — fig 6. Antique French Burr Walnut Parquetry Card Backgammon Table 19th Century

The manufacture of true ormolu employs a process known as mercury-gilding or fire-gilding, in which a solution of nitrate of mercury is applied to a piece of copper, brass, or bronze, followed by the application of an amalgam of gold and mercury. The item was then exposed to extreme heat until the mercury burned off and the gold remained, adhered to the metal object.

fig 7. A nineteenth-century French burr walnut games table featuring a geometric parquetry inlaid top, scalloped apron, cabriole legs, and gilt bronze corner mounts. — fig 7. Antique French Burr Walnut Parquetry Card Backgammon Table 19th Century

After around 1830 because legislation had outlawed the use of mercury other techniques were used instead. Electroplating is the most common modern technique. Ormolu techniques are essentially the same as those used on silver, to produce silver-gilt..

Our reference: A3623