What defines 19th-century side cabinets made with exotic woods?

Side cabinets from the 19th century frequently featured imported exotic hardwoods such as kingwood and goncalo alves. Cabinetmakers employed complex parquetry and marquetry techniques to highlight contrasting wood grain patterns, often framing the structure with brass moulding.

What materials and construction methods are typical of these cabinets?

These cabinets feature solid hardwood frames clad in decorative timber veneers, including book-matched kingwood and figured goncalo alves. Joinery includes hand-cut dovetails, framed single doors, brass edge trim, and cast brass escutcheons.

How can one identify authentic 19th-century parquetry side cabinets?

Authentic pieces exhibit hand-cut veneers of varying thickness, natural age patina on the timber surfaces, and original brass hardware showing slight oxidation. The interior construction generally displays hand-planed timber secondary woods such as oak or pine.

How can a pair of antique side cabinets be styled in a contemporary interior?

A symmetrical pair can flank a fireplace, hallway archway, or master bed to provide balance and warm timber tones. The rich grain of exotic wood contrasts effectively against crisp modern wall paint and contemporary art.

How should one care for 19th-century kingwood and marquetry veneer?

Maintain a consistent room humidity to prevent veneer lifting or timber shrinkage. Dust regularly with a clean microfiber cloth and apply a high-grade beeswax polish sparingly twice a year, avoiding abrasive chemical cleaners.

for sale €4,973 $5,398

£4,250

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19th Century Cabinets

Antique Credenza Pair

Victorian Side Cabinets

Id #SA1142998

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Antique Pair Goncalo Alves & King-wood Side Cabinets 19th C

Name: Antique Pair Goncalo Alves & King-wood Side Cabinets 19th C
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1142998
Price: 4250 GBP
Availability: InStock

19th century

For Sale by Regent Antiques

Description

This is a gorgeous pair of antique Victorian Gonçalo Alves & King-Wood side cabinets, dating from Circa1880.

Each cabinet has a cupboard door which opens to a central shelf. They each have incurvate sides and are mounted with ormolu ribbon bound reed beading. They are raised on elegant square tapering legs.

Add a touch of elegance to a special room in your home with this superb pair.

Complete with working locks and keys.

Condition:

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

Dimensions in cm:

Height 90 cm x Width 76 cm x Depth 33 cm

Dimensions in inches:

Height 2 foot, 11 inches x Width 2 foot, 6 inches x Depth 1 foot, 1 inch

Gonçalo Alves is a hardwood (from the Portuguese name, Gonçalo Alves). It is sometimes referred to as tigerwood — a name that underscore the wood’s often dramatic, contrasting color scheme.

While the sapwood is very light in color, the heartwood is a sombre brown, with dark streaks that give it a unique look. The wood’s color deepens with exposure and age and even the plainer-looking wood has a natural luster.

Two species are usually listed as sources for gonçalo alves: Astronium fraxinifolium and Astronium graveolens, although other species in the genus may yield similar wood; the amount of striping that is present may vary.

In the high tropical forests of Central and South America, well-drained soils furnish nutrients for a variety of dense, durable hardwoods sought for maritime use, heavyconstruction, and furniture. The Spanish began harvesting in Latin American forests in the early 1500s to provide timber for boatbuilding and repair. By the early 1900s, however, steel ships had replaced wooden ones, and the interest in tropical forests by both Europeans and Americans shifted to appearance-grade woods for furniture.

Although history fails to provide us with a shopping list of species from either harvest period, it's probable that the wood we know today as goncalo alves has always been sought. That's because goncalo alves, considered one of the most beautiful of tropical woods, has a tough reputation, too. Strong and durable, it's used for construction in its homeland and secondarily for fine furniture. Woodworkers elsewhere treasure the wood for decorative items and veneer accents.

King-wood

is a classic furniture wood, almost exclusively used for inlays on very fine furniture. Occasionally it is used in the solid for small items and turned work, including parts of billiard cues, e.g., those made by John Parris. It is brownish-purple with many fine darker stripes and occasional irregular swirls. Occasionally it contains pale streaks of a similar colour to sapwood.

The wood is very dense and hard and can be brought to a spectacular finish. it turns well but due to its density and hardness can be difficult to work with hand tools. It also has a tendency to blunt the tools due to its abrasive properties.

Our reference: A4442

Physical Dimensions

Height

90cm (35.43")

Width

76cm (29.92")

Depth

33cm (12.99")

Declaration

Regent Antiques has dated these Pair Kingwood Side Cabinets to the 1880s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1142998

Dealers Internal Reference

A4442

Description

This is a gorgeous pair of antique Victorian Gonçalo Alves & King-Wood side cabinets, dating from Circa1880.

Each cabinet has a cupboard door which opens to a central shelf. They each have incurvate sides and are mounted with ormolu ribbon bound reed beading. They are raised on elegant square tapering legs.

fig 1. A matching pair of 19th-century side cabinets crafted from warm brown goncalo alves and kingwood with decorative parquetry veneer, brass mounts, and tapered square legs. — fig 1. Antique Pair Goncalo Alves & King-wood Side Cabinets 19th C

Add a touch of elegance to a special room in your home with this superb pair.

Complete with working locks and keys.

Condition:

“

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

Regent Antiques

fig 2. A matching pair of 19th-century side cabinets crafted from warm brown goncalo alves and kingwood with decorative parquetry veneer, brass mounts, and tapered square legs. — fig 2. Antique Pair Goncalo Alves & King-wood Side Cabinets 19th C

Dimensions in cm:

Height 90 cm x Width 76 cm x Depth 33 cm

Dimensions in inches:

Height 2 foot, 11 inches x Width 2 foot, 6 inches x Depth 1 foot, 1 inch

Gonçalo Alves is a hardwood (from the Portuguese name, Gonçalo Alves). It is sometimes referred to as tigerwood — a name that underscore the wood’s often dramatic, contrasting color scheme.

fig 3. A matching pair of 19th-century side cabinets crafted from warm brown goncalo alves and kingwood with decorative parquetry veneer, brass mounts, and tapered square legs. — fig 3. Antique Pair Goncalo Alves & King-wood Side Cabinets 19th C

While the sapwood is very light in color, the heartwood is a sombre brown, with dark streaks that give it a unique look. The wood’s color deepens with exposure and age and even the plainer-looking wood has a natural luster.

fig 4. A matching pair of 19th-century side cabinets crafted from warm brown goncalo alves and kingwood with decorative parquetry veneer, brass mounts, and tapered square legs. — fig 4. Antique Pair Goncalo Alves & King-wood Side Cabinets 19th C

Two species are usually listed as sources for gonçalo alves: Astronium fraxinifolium and Astronium graveolens, although other species in the genus may yield similar wood; the amount of striping that is present may vary.

fig 5. A matching pair of 19th-century side cabinets crafted from warm brown goncalo alves and kingwood with decorative parquetry veneer, brass mounts, and tapered square legs. — fig 5. Antique Pair Goncalo Alves & King-wood Side Cabinets 19th C

In the high tropical forests of Central and South America, well-drained soils furnish nutrients for a variety of dense, durable hardwoods sought for maritime use, heavyconstruction, and furniture. The Spanish began harvesting in Latin American forests in the early 1500s to provide timber for boatbuilding and repair. By the early 1900s, however, steel ships had replaced wooden ones, and the interest in tropical forests by both Europeans and Americans shifted to appearance-grade woods for furniture.

fig 6. A matching pair of 19th-century side cabinets crafted from warm brown goncalo alves and kingwood with decorative parquetry veneer, brass mounts, and tapered square legs. — fig 6. Antique Pair Goncalo Alves & King-wood Side Cabinets 19th C

Although history fails to provide us with a shopping list of species from either harvest period, it's probable that the wood we know today as goncalo alves has always been sought. That's because goncalo alves, considered one of the most beautiful of tropical woods, has a tough reputation, too. Strong and durable, it's used for construction in its homeland and secondarily for fine furniture. Woodworkers elsewhere treasure the wood for decorative items and veneer accents.

King-wood

is a classic furniture wood, almost exclusively used for inlays on very fine furniture. Occasionally it is used in the solid for small items and turned work, including parts of billiard cues, e.g., those made by John Parris. It is brownish-purple with many fine darker stripes and occasional irregular swirls. Occasionally it contains pale streaks of a similar colour to sapwood.

The wood is very dense and hard and can be brought to a spectacular finish. it turns well but due to its density and hardness can be difficult to work with hand tools. It also has a tendency to blunt the tools due to its abrasive properties.

Our reference: A4442