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ID #SA1245295
FOR SALE
£795
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Victorian Papier-mâché Mother of Pearl Inlaid Tilt-top Chess Table
For sale by Tinker & Toad
for sale €930     $1,010
£795

Tinker & Toad

Sellingantiques Verified Since Aug 2020
Browse dealers 85 items
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Id #SA1245295
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Victorian Papier-mâché Mother of Pearl Inlaid Tilt-top Chess Table

19th century
For Sale by Tinker & Toad
Description

A wonderfully decorative Victorian papier-mâché tilt-top chess table, beautifully finished in black lacquer with intricate mother-of-pearl inlay and hand-painted floral decoration.

The shaped circular top features a striking chequerboard design formed from mother-of-pearl and black lacquer, surrounded by finely painted flowers and foliage. The elaborate stepped and scalloped edge retains traces of its original gilded decoration. Standing on an elegant turned column with a decorative four-legged base, also finished in black lacquer with gilt detailing. The original tilt-top mechanism allows the table to be displayed vertically when not in use, making it both a practical and particularly attractive decorative piece. A fine example of Victorian papier-mâché furniture, displaying the quality of craftsmanship and attention to detail for which these pieces are admired.

In good antique condition, with expected wear, losses to the lacquer and gilding, and signs of age throughout. Loss to the top of one leg and an old repair to another, but all solid.

Dimensions: 61cm diameter, 70cm high.

Date of Manufacture

Tinker & Toad has dated this Papier Mache Chess Table to the 19th Century.

Physical Dimensions
Height
70cm (27.56")
Width
61cm (24.02")
Depth
61cm (24.02")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1245295
Description
A wonderfully decorative Victorian papier-mâché tilt-top chess table, beautifully finished in black lacquer with intricate mother-of-pearl inlay and hand-painted floral decoration.
“
The shaped circular top features a striking chequerboard design formed from mother-of-pearl and black lacquer, surrounded by finely painted flowers and foliage.
Tinker & Toad

The elaborate stepped and scalloped edge retains traces of its original gilded decoration. Standing on an elegant turned column with a decorative four-legged base, also finished in black lacquer with gilt detailing. The original tilt-top mechanism allows the table to be displayed vertically when not in use, making it both a practical and particularly attractive decorative piece. A fine example of Victorian papier-mâché furniture, displaying the quality of craftsmanship and attention to detail for which these pieces are admired.

fig 1. A Victorian black papier-mache tilt-top table featuring a scalloped rim, mother-of-pearl chessboard inlay, painted floral detailing, and a tripod pedestal base.
fig 1. Victorian Papier-mâché Mother of Pearl Inlaid Tilt-top Chess Table

In good antique condition, with expected wear, losses to the lacquer and gilding, and signs of age throughout. Loss to the top of one leg and an old repair to another, but all solid.

Dimensions: 61cm diameter, 70cm high.

Date of Manufacture

Tinker & Toad has dated this Papier Mache Chess Table to the 19th Century.

Height
70cm (27.56")
Width
61cm (24.02")
Depth
61cm (24.02")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1245295
Tinker & Toad
Sellingantiques verified Since Aug 2020
Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Tinker & Toad Profile Page

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A Victorian black papier-mache tilt-top table featuring a scalloped rim, mother-of-pearl chessboard inlay, painted floral detailing, and a tripod pedestal base.
1 / 10
Archive I A Victorian black papier-mache tilt-top table featuring a scalloped rim, mother-of-pearl chessboard inlay, painted floral detailing, and a tripod pedestal base.

Victorian Papier-mâché Mother of Pearl Inlaid Tilt-top Chess Table

Archive II A Victorian black papier-mache tilt-top table featuring a scalloped rim, mother-of-pearl chessboard inlay, painted floral detailing, and a tripod pedestal base. View II
Archive III A Victorian black papier-mache tilt-top table featuring a scalloped rim, mother-of-pearl chessboard inlay, painted floral detailing, and a tripod pedestal base. View III
Archive IV A Victorian black papier-mache tilt-top table featuring a scalloped rim, mother-of-pearl chessboard inlay, painted floral detailing, and a tripod pedestal base. View IV
Archive V A Victorian black papier-mache tilt-top table featuring a scalloped rim, mother-of-pearl chessboard inlay, painted floral detailing, and a tripod pedestal base. View V
Archive VI A Victorian black papier-mache tilt-top table featuring a scalloped rim, mother-of-pearl chessboard inlay, painted floral detailing, and a tripod pedestal base. View VI
Archive VII A Victorian black papier-mache tilt-top table featuring a scalloped rim, mother-of-pearl chessboard inlay, painted floral detailing, and a tripod pedestal base. View VII
Archive VIII A Victorian black papier-mache tilt-top table featuring a scalloped rim, mother-of-pearl chessboard inlay, painted floral detailing, and a tripod pedestal base. View VIII
Archive IX A Victorian black papier-mache tilt-top table featuring a scalloped rim, mother-of-pearl chessboard inlay, painted floral detailing, and a tripod pedestal base. View IX
Archive X A Victorian black papier-mache tilt-top table featuring a scalloped rim, mother-of-pearl chessboard inlay, painted floral detailing, and a tripod pedestal base. View X
Enlarged Archival View

Tinker & Toad
Telephone 07771 682942
Location
54 The Mint
Rye
East Sussex
TN31 7EN
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/tinkerandtoad
Verified Since Aug 2020
Items For Sale 85
Items Sold 561
Tinker & Toad
Verified Since Aug 2020
View Dealer Info
Location: 54 The Mint, Rye, East Sussex, TN31 7EN, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/tinkerandtoad
Verified
Aug 2020
For Sale
85
Sold
561
A Victorian black papier-mache tilt-top table featuring a scalloped rim, mother-of-pearl chessboard inlay, painted floral detailing, and a tripod pedestal base.
Victorian Papier-Mâché Mother Of Pearl Inlaid Tilt-Top Chess Table
Ref: SA1245295
A Victorian black papier-mache tilt-top table featuring a scalloped rim, mother-of-pearl chessboard inlay, painted floral detailing, and a tripod pedestal base.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Detail View 5
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Detail View 7
Detail View 8
Detail View 9
Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectGames Tables
  • Period19th century
  • StyleVictorian
  • MaterialPapier-Mache, Mother-of-Pearl, Wood, Gilded Paint
  • ColourBlack and Gold
  • MotifsMother-of-pearl chessboard inlay, Scalloped rim, Tripod pedestal base, Painted floral detail
  • SizeH 70 cm (28 in) x W 61 cm (24 in) x D 61 cm (24 in)

This 19th-century Victorian chess table is constructed from papier-mâché, wood, and mother-of-pearl, finished in black with gold painted highlights and gilding. The circular top has a scalloped rim, a central chessboard inlay, and hand-painted floral motifs. A turned pedestal column supports the top, leading down to a tripod base with shaped legs, which displays an old repair to one leg and a loss to the top of another. Surface wear, losses to the lacquer and gilding, and signs of age are visible across the black and gold surfaces. Measuring 70 cm high and 61 cm wide, this compact games table fits into an empty corner of a living room or study as a functional occasional surface. The tilt-top mechanism permits vertical display when the table is not in active use as a chess board.

FAQs

Victorian papier-mache furniture consists of compressed paper sheets treated with heat, oils, and dark lacquer to form durable, lightweight decorative pieces. These items were frequently embellished with painted floral designs, gilding, and mother-of-pearl inlays during the mid-to-late 19th century.

Craftsmen applied thin wafers of iridescent shell directly onto the unvarnished papier-mache base before adding multiple layers of black asphaltum lacquer. The surface was then polished flat until the shell inlays were flush with the glossy lacquer coating.

Authentic pieces exhibit heavy lacquer finish coats over dense material, subtle surface crazing, and hand-painted gilt or floral detailing. Markings from makers such as Jennens & Bettridge may also be stamped onto the underside of the frame.

A dark lacquer tilt-top table functions effectively as an occasional accent piece placed in an empty corner, beside an armchair, or in a bay window. The black finish and iridescent inlay provide visual contrast when set against contemporary neutral backdrops.

Clean the surface gently using a dry microfibre cloth to prevent moisture damage to the lacquer substrate. Keep the item away from direct sunlight and heat sources to preserve the original gilding and prevent cracking of the shell inlay.
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