What is a French Kingwood centre table?

A French Kingwood centre table is a decorative piece of free-standing furniture crafted during the 18th or 19th century, designed to be placed in the middle of a room or entryway. These tables typically feature rich exotic veneers, serpentine aprons, cabriole legs, and elaborate inlaid marquetry scenes.

What materials are traditionally used in 19th-century French marquetry tables?

These tables are constructed using a hardwood core veneered with exotic woods such as kingwood, tulipwood, and rosewood. The decorative pictorial or floral marquetry incorporates tinted fruitwoods, while finely cast gilt-bronze (ormolu) mounts reinforce corners, edges, and leg terminals.

How do you identify authentic mid-19th-century French centre tables?

Authentic mid-19th-century pieces display hand-cut marquetry veneers, period-correct brass or bronze hardware secured with antique screw threads, and uneven timber shrinkage on undersides. The gilding on original ormolu mounts often shows characteristic patina and oxidation in recessed areas.

How do you style an antique French centre table in a modern interior?

Position the table in an entrance foyer or large drawing room as a focal point, pairing it with contemporary lighting or understated modern artwork to balance the detailed woodwork. Avoid cluttering the top to ensure the intricate marquetry artwork remains visible.

How should marquetry veneers and gilt-bronze mounts be cared for?

Keep the timber away from direct sunlight and fluctuating humidity to prevent veneer lifting or cracking. Clean the wood surfaces with a dry microfibre cloth and apply beeswax sparingly, while cleaning bronze mounts using only a dry soft brush to avoid damaging the original gilt finish.

for sale €7,605 $8,255

£6,500

LVS Decorative Arts

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Kingwood Centre Table

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Id #SA1227836

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Fine Quality Mid 19th Century French Kingwood Inlaid Centre Table

Name: Fine Quality Mid 19th Century French Kingwood Inlaid Centre Table
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1227836
Price: 6500 GBP
Availability: InStock

19th century

For Sale by LVS Decorative Arts

Description

A fine quality mid 19th century (circa 1860) French Kingwood inlaid centre table.

This table consists of a shaped top with extremely fine quality marquetry decoration inlaid with exotic woods with an ebony ground, the inlaid top consisting of a central inlaid panel depicting a Classical scene of noblemen and women walking in a garden and landscape with central fountain, a wonderful Chateau to the background with superb floral and foliate inlaid designs.

This wonderful inlaid central panel within shaped borders of Kingwood banding, boxwood stringing, amboyna banding and boxwood stringing with an outer fine quality and finely chased ormolu applied moulding.

This leads down to a fine quality inlaid frieze on all four sides of the table consisting of cherubs and putti inlaid decoration within ebony ground surrounded by Kingwood banding and boxwood stringing with oak lined drawer to the front opening to reveal a sliding writing surface covered in blue velvet, this can be opened to reveal a concealed storage compartment.

Within the frieze both to the front and back the table has a fine quality central ormolu panel with inlaid Kingwood and ebony lattice decoration with ormolu escutcheon.

The table is supported by four elegant cabriole legs consisting of ebony, boxwood stringing and Kingwood banding all with fine quality applied ormolu mounts to the top with applied ormolu decoration following the leg down and terminating with ormolu sabots.

This table which is in the French style does have some influences of English cabinet work but it is undoubtedly French as the table is all veneered on poplar wood which is not a wood used in English cabinet work.

Whilst we are unable to find any makers stamps or marks on this piece it is undoubtedly from a fine workshop due to the quality of the cabinet work.

This table is in very good condition for age, is of stable construction and can go straight into a home.

Size:

Height: 29.75'' / 75.5cm

Width: 31.75'' / 80.5cm

Depth: 21.75'' / 55.25cm

Physical Dimensions

Height

75.5cm (29.72")

Width

80.5cm (31.69")

Depth

55.2cm (21.73")

Declaration

LVS Decorative Arts has dated this French Kingwood Centre Table to the 1860s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1227836

Dealers Internal Reference

LVS1101

Dealers Notes

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LVS Decorative Arts is a small family run business based in Suffolk, specialising in an eclectic mix of fine quality and decorative antiques from around the world.

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LAPADA & CINOA member

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All furniture is professionally restored to the highest of standards, using traditional methods, we feel that quality restoration is paramount to the longevity of the piece.

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INSURED DELIVERY INCLUDED IN LIST PRICE WITHIN MAINLAND UK FOR A ONE MAN COURIER SERVICE

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Worldwide shipping available, please contact us for a free quote to include professional packing and fully insured services

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PLEASE NOTE: viewing is 'By Appointment' only - please contact Liza a few days in advance to arrange this.

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Payments are accepted by bank transfer or cheque

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Please contact us if any further high definition photographs are required or please visit our own website as follows where you can zoom in on the photos:

www.lvsdecorativearts.co.uk

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You can contact Liza either by email lvsdecorativearts@btinternet.com or telephone 07703306451

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Please bear in mind: antique items for sale may have some wear and marks commensurate with their age which adds to the character of the piece.

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Thank you for viewing our stock and please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need any further information.

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Description

A fine quality mid 19th century (circa 1860) French Kingwood inlaid centre table.

This table consists of a shaped top with extremely fine quality marquetry decoration inlaid with exotic woods with an ebony ground, the inlaid top consisting of a central inlaid panel depicting a Classical scene of noblemen and women walking in a garden and landscape with central fountain, a wonderful Chateau to the background with superb floral and foliate inlaid designs.

fig 1. A mid-19th-century French Kingwood centre table featuring a serpentine top with intricate pictorial marquetry, cabriole legs, and ornate gilt-bronze mounts. — fig 1. Fine Quality Mid 19th Century French Kingwood Inlaid Centre Table

This wonderful inlaid central panel within shaped borders of Kingwood banding, boxwood stringing, amboyna banding and boxwood stringing with an outer fine quality and finely chased ormolu applied moulding.

fig 2. A mid-19th-century French Kingwood centre table featuring a serpentine top with intricate pictorial marquetry, cabriole legs, and ornate gilt-bronze mounts. — fig 2. Fine Quality Mid 19th Century French Kingwood Inlaid Centre Table

This leads down to a fine quality inlaid frieze on all four sides of the table consisting of cherubs and putti inlaid decoration within ebony ground surrounded by Kingwood banding and boxwood stringing with oak lined drawer to the front opening to reveal a sliding writing surface covered in blue velvet, this can be opened to reveal a concealed storage compartment.

“

Within the frieze both to the front and back the table has a fine quality central ormolu panel with inlaid Kingwood and ebony lattice decoration with ormolu escutcheon.

LVS Decorative Arts

fig 3. A mid-19th-century French Kingwood centre table featuring a serpentine top with intricate pictorial marquetry, cabriole legs, and ornate gilt-bronze mounts. — fig 3. Fine Quality Mid 19th Century French Kingwood Inlaid Centre Table

The table is supported by four elegant cabriole legs consisting of ebony, boxwood stringing and Kingwood banding all with fine quality applied ormolu mounts to the top with applied ormolu decoration following the leg down and terminating with ormolu sabots.

fig 4. A mid-19th-century French Kingwood centre table featuring a serpentine top with intricate pictorial marquetry, cabriole legs, and ornate gilt-bronze mounts. — fig 4. Fine Quality Mid 19th Century French Kingwood Inlaid Centre Table

This table which is in the French style does have some influences of English cabinet work but it is undoubtedly French as the table is all veneered on poplar wood which is not a wood used in English cabinet work.