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ID #SA1084572
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Victorian Paper Mache Desk Letter Stand C.1860
Sold by The Old Cinema
sold SA1084572
Sorry, but this item has been sold.

The Old Cinema

Sellingantiques Verified Since Jul 2020
Browse dealers 111 items
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Id #SA1084572
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Victorian Paper Mache Desk Letter Stand C.1860

19th century
Sold 13 March 2025 · The Old Cinema
This “Victorian Paper Mache Desk Letter Stand C.1860” found a buyer.

It was listed by The Old Cinema. Sold pieces stay on Sellingantiques as a record of what has passed through, and the next one is rarely far away.

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19th Century Desk Decor Ask the dealer for something similar
Description

Age: Circa 1860s

Material: Paper Mache

Colour: Black & Gold

Physical Dimensions
Height
17cm (6.69")
Width
21.5cm (8.46")
Depth
6.5cm (2.56")
Declaration

The Old Cinema has dated this Victorian Paper Mache Letter Rack to the 1860s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1084572
Dealers Internal Reference
45026
Description
Age: Circa 1860s

Material: Paper Mache

Colour: Black & Gold

Height
17cm (6.69")
Width
21.5cm (8.46")
Depth
6.5cm (2.56")
Date of Manufacture

The Old Cinema has dated this Victorian Paper Mache Letter Rack to the 1860s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1084572
Dealers Internal Ref
45026
The Old Cinema
Sellingantiques verified Since Jul 2020
Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the The Old Cinema Profile Page

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An antique Victorian black papier-mache letter rack decorated with gilt Chinoiserie figural scenes and shaped stepped partitions. SOLD6+ MONTHS AGO
1 / 3
Archive I An antique Victorian black papier-mache letter rack decorated with gilt Chinoiserie figural scenes and shaped stepped partitions. SOLD6+ MONTHS AGO

Victorian Paper Mache Desk Letter Stand C.1860

Archive II An antique Victorian black papier-mache letter rack decorated with gilt Chinoiserie figural scenes and shaped stepped partitions. View II
Archive III An antique Victorian black papier-mache letter rack decorated with gilt Chinoiserie figural scenes and shaped stepped partitions. View III
Enlarged Archival View

The Old Cinema
Telephone 0208 995 4166
Location
160 Chiswick High Road
London
W4 1PR
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/theoldcinema
Verified Since Jul 2020
Items For Sale 111
Items Sold 1,555
The Old Cinema
Verified Since Jul 2020
View Dealer Info
Location: 160 Chiswick High Road, London, W4 1PR, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/theoldcinema
Verified
Jul 2020
For Sale
111
Sold
1,555
An antique Victorian black papier-mache letter rack decorated with gilt Chinoiserie figural scenes and shaped stepped partitions.
Victorian Paper Mache Desk Letter Stand c.1860
Ref: SA1084572
An antique Victorian black papier-mache letter rack decorated with gilt Chinoiserie figural scenes and shaped stepped partitions.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectDesk Accessories
  • Period19th century
  • StyleVictorian / Chinoiserie
  • MaterialPapier-mache, Lacquer, Gilt
  • ColourBlack and Gold
  • MotifsGilt chinoiserie figures, Scyma curved silhouette, Scalloped compartments, Japanned lacquer finish
  • SizeH 17 cm (7 in) x W 21.5 cm (8 in) x D 6.5 cm (3 in)

FAQs

Victorian paper mache, properly known as papier-mache or millboard, gained immense popularity in the mid-19th century. Items were crafted from pulped paper mixed with glue, resin, and chalk, pressed into iron moulds, dried, and finished with multiple layers of black lacquer, often featuring hand-painted designs or inlaid mother-of-pearl.

These items were constructed using a sturdy compressed paper pulp base, reinforced in some structural areas with wood or metal. The surface was heavily japanned with black lacquer and decorated using hand-gilding, bronze powders, and occasionally inlaid mother-of-pearl plaques to create intricate metallic imagery.

Authentic pieces from the 19th century typically feature heavy black japanning with craquelure or fine age-related surface cracking. The underside or interior often reveals the raw pressed paper or fibrous texture, and hand-painted details display the brushwork inconsistencies typical of period craftsmanship rather than modern transfers.

This piece can be styled as a functional desk accessory on an executive home office desk or used as a decorative accent on a console table or bookshelf. Its dark lacquer and metallic highlights provide a sophisticated touch of historical contrast within contemporary minimalist or traditional schemes.

Antique papier-mache and japanned items should be kept out of direct sunlight to prevent lacquer fading and cracking. Dust gently with a dry, soft microfibre cloth, and strictly avoid liquid cleaners, polishes, or solvents which can permanently damage the delicate historical finish.
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