Antique Fine King Wood Octagonal Display Cabinet Jardiniere 20th C

This is an very fine octagonal king wood and ormolu mounted display cabinet / jardiniere, dating from Circa 1920.

It is octagonal in shape, has two glass shelves and features a lift off lid which reveals a hidden jardinière giving the possibility of a wonderful floral display to compliment your most valuable collectables.

This tall display cabinet is elegantly veneered in the finest quality 'Bois de Roi,' commonly known as King wood and is adorned with superb ormolu mounts. 

There is no mistaking the sophisticated quality and design of this cabinet and it is sure to receive the maximum amount of attention wherever it is placed.

Complete with working lock and key.

Condition:

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

Dimensions in cm:

Height 139 cm x Width 75 cm x Depth 75 cm

Dimensions in inches:

Height 4 foot, 7 inches x Width 2 foot, 5 inches x Depth 2 foot, 5 inches

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.

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: A5102