What characterises a Victorian burr walnut credenza?

A Victorian burr walnut credenza is a low, ornate storage cabinet popular in the mid-to-late nineteenth century, typically featuring figural burr veneer, glass side display compartments, ormolu mounts, and decorative inlay or porcelain plaques.

Which materials were traditionally used in crafting nineteenth-century credenzas?

Cabinetmakers primarily utilised solid hardwoods veneered with burr walnut, accented with ebonised wood detailing, gilt-bronze or brass mounts, glass panel doors, and hand-painted porcelain plaques.

How can an authentic Victorian credenza be identified?

Authentic period pieces exhibit hand-cut dovetail joints, original glass, age-appropriate oxidisation on gilt-bronze mounts, period lock mechanisms, and natural wear patterns along the base and interior shelving.

How can a Victorian credenza be integrated into a contemporary interior?

Position the cabinet as a central statement piece in an entrance hall or dining room, balancing its intricate detailing by styling the surrounding space with minimal wall decor and contemporary lighting.

How should a burr walnut credenza with porcelain plaques be maintained?

Dust surfaces using a clean microfibre cloth, apply high-grade beeswax sparingly to preserve the wood finish, maintain a stable humidity level to prevent veneer lifting, and clean porcelain plaques using damp cotton swabs.

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Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Credenza Sevres Plaques 19th C

19th century

For Sale by Regent Antiques

Description

A Victorian burr walnut and ebonised credenza, with ormolu mounts with four Sevres style porcelain plaques, with four knopped columns and pair of glazed doors flanking central panelled door on bun feet, 119c high x 190cm wide x 46cm deep

This is a superb antique Victorian burr walnut and ebonised Sevres Porcelain and ormolu mounted line inlaid breakfront credenza, circa 1860 in date.

It has a striking central panelled door which is adorned with a beautiful ormolu mounted and hand painted Sevres porcelain plaque depicting a courting couple with chaperone, flanked by an elegant glazed door on either side. There are three similar Sevres porcelain plaques in the frieze, and it is further decorated with four corinthian columns and exquisite ormolu mounts.

The glazed side doors open to reveal two shelves in each section, ideal for displaying your collectables, the central door opens to reveal a central shelf and plenty of storage space for drinks, glasses, crockery, etc,. The interior is lined in it's original violet velvet.

it is raised on ebonised bun feet and is complete with working locks and keys.

This is a stunning piece which is sure to attract a lot of attention.

Condition:

In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned and polished, and the interior relined, in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 119 x Width 190 x Depth 46

Dimensions in inches:

Height 46.9 x Width 74.8 x Depth 18.1

Burr Walnut refers to the swirling figure present in nearly all walnut when cut and polished, and especially in the wood taken from the base of the tree where it joins the roots. However the true burr is a rare growth on the tree where hundreds of tiny branches have started to grow. Burr walnut produces some of the most complex and beautiful figuring you can find.

Sevres Porcelain traces its roots in France to early craftsmen who had small manufacturing operations in such places as Lille, Rouen. St. Cloud, and most notably Chantilly. It is from Chantilly that a cadre of workers migrated to the Chateau de Vincennes near Paris to form a larger porcelain manufactory in 1738. French King Louis XV, perhaps inspired by his rumoured relationship with mistress Madame de Pompadour, took an intense interest in porcelain and moved the operation in 1756 to even larger quarters in the Paris suburb of Sevres. Sevres was also conveniently near the home of Madame de Pompadour and the King's own Palace at Versailles.

From the outset the king's clear aim was to produce Sevres Porcelain that surpassed the established Saxony works of Meissen and Dresden. Though the French lacked an ample supply of kaolin, a required ingredient for hard-paste porcelain (pate dure), their soft-paste porcelain (pate tendre) was fired at a lower temperature and was thus compatible with a wider variety of colours and glazes that in many cases were also richer and more vivid. Unglazed white Sevres Porcelain "biscuit" figurines were also a great success. However, soft-paste Sevres Porcelain was more easily broken. Therefore, early pieces of Sevres Porcelain that remain intact have become rare indeed.

The Sevres Porcelain manufactory always seemed to be in dire financial straits despite the incredibly fine works it produced. In fact, the king's insistence that only the finest items be created may have contributed to the difficulties. Only a limited number of European nobility could afford the extravagant prices demanded for such works. King Louis XV and eventually his heir, the ill-fated Louis XVI, were obliged to invest heavily in the enterprise. Ultimately, the Sevres Porcelain Factory produced items under the name of "Royal" and thus the well-known Sevres mark was born. King Louis XV even mandated laws that severely restricted other porcelain production in France so as to

Physical Dimensions

Height

119cm (46.85")

Width

190cm (74.80")

Depth

46cm (18.11")

Declaration

Regent Antiques has dated this Victorian Burr Walnut Credenza to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA768024

Dealers Internal Reference

09077

Description

“

This is a superb antique Victorian burr walnut and ebonised Sevres Porcelain and ormolu mounted line inlaid breakfront credenza, circa 1860 in date.

Regent Antiques

fig 1. A nineteenth-century Victorian burr walnut credenza featuring flanking glazed doors, ebonised columns, gilt-bronze mounts, and a central panel with a porcelain plaque. — fig 1. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Credenza Sevres Plaques 19th C

It has a striking central panelled door which is adorned with a beautiful ormolu mounted and hand painted Sevres porcelain plaque depicting a courting couple with chaperone, flanked by an elegant glazed door on either side. There are three similar Sevres porcelain plaques in the frieze, and it is further decorated with four corinthian columns and exquisite ormolu mounts.

fig 2. A nineteenth-century Victorian burr walnut credenza featuring flanking glazed doors, ebonised columns, gilt-bronze mounts, and a central panel with a porcelain plaque. — fig 2. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Credenza Sevres Plaques 19th C

The glazed side doors open to reveal two shelves in each section, ideal for displaying your collectables, the central door opens to reveal a central shelf and plenty of storage space for drinks, glasses, crockery, etc,. The interior is lined in it's original violet velvet.

fig 3. A nineteenth-century Victorian burr walnut credenza featuring flanking glazed doors, ebonised columns, gilt-bronze mounts, and a central panel with a porcelain plaque. — fig 3. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Credenza Sevres Plaques 19th C

it is raised on ebonised bun feet and is complete with working locks and keys.

This is a stunning piece which is sure to attract a lot of attention.

Condition:

In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned and polished, and the interior relined, in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.

fig 4. A nineteenth-century Victorian burr walnut credenza featuring flanking glazed doors, ebonised columns, gilt-bronze mounts, and a central panel with a porcelain plaque. — fig 4. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Credenza Sevres Plaques 19th C

Dimensions in cm:

Height 119 x Width 190 x Depth 46

Dimensions in inches:

Height 46.9 x Width 74.8 x Depth 18.1

Burr Walnut refers to the swirling figure present in nearly all walnut when cut and polished, and especially in the wood taken from the base of the tree where it joins the roots. However the true burr is a rare growth on the tree where hundreds of tiny branches have started to grow. Burr walnut produces some of the most complex and beautiful figuring you can find.

fig 5. A nineteenth-century Victorian burr walnut credenza featuring flanking glazed doors, ebonised columns, gilt-bronze mounts, and a central panel with a porcelain plaque. — fig 5. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Credenza Sevres Plaques 19th C

Sevres Porcelain traces its roots in France to early craftsmen who had small manufacturing operations in such places as Lille, Rouen. St. Cloud, and most notably Chantilly. It is from Chantilly that a cadre of workers migrated to the Chateau de Vincennes near Paris to form a larger porcelain manufactory in 1738. French King Louis XV, perhaps inspired by his rumoured relationship with mistress Madame de Pompadour, took an intense interest in porcelain and moved the operation in 1756 to even larger quarters in the Paris suburb of Sevres. Sevres was also conveniently near the home of Madame de Pompadour and the King's own Palace at Versailles.

fig 6. A nineteenth-century Victorian burr walnut credenza featuring flanking glazed doors, ebonised columns, gilt-bronze mounts, and a central panel with a porcelain plaque. — fig 6. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Credenza Sevres Plaques 19th C

From the outset the king's clear aim was to produce Sevres Porcelain that surpassed the established Saxony works of Meissen and Dresden. Though the French lacked an ample supply of kaolin, a required ingredient for hard-paste porcelain (pate dure), their soft-paste porcelain (pate tendre) was fired at a lower temperature and was thus compatible with a wider variety of colours and glazes that in many cases were also richer and more vivid. Unglazed white Sevres Porcelain "biscuit" figurines were also a great success. However, soft-paste Sevres Porcelain was more easily broken. Therefore, early pieces of Sevres Porcelain that remain intact have become rare indeed.

fig 7. A nineteenth-century Victorian burr walnut credenza featuring flanking glazed doors, ebonised columns, gilt-bronze mounts, and a central panel with a porcelain plaque. — fig 7. Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Credenza Sevres Plaques 19th C

The Sevres Porcelain manufactory always seemed to be in dire financial straits despite the incredibly fine works it produced. In fact, the king's insistence that only the finest items be created may have contributed to the difficulties. Only a limited number of European nobility could afford the extravagant prices demanded for such works. King Louis XV and eventually his heir, the ill-fated Louis XVI, were obliged to invest heavily in the enterprise. Ultimately, the Sevres Porcelain Factory produced items under the name of "Royal" and thus the well-known Sevres mark was born. King Louis XV even mandated laws that severely restricted other porcelain production in France so as to