It was listed by Regent Antiques. Sold pieces stay on Sellingantiques as a record of what has passed through, and the next one is rarely far away.
Regent Antiques has dated this piece to the 19th Century.
The shaped top has a decorative gilt bronze border, raised corner cartouches and an inset gold tooled green leather writing surface above three frieze drawers on one side and dummy drawers on the other. There is useful pull out slide, also with gold tooled inset green leather, to each side.
It is raised on elegant cabriole legs ending in decorative ormolu sabots.
This is a truly lovely piece which will display beautifully in any interior.
Condition:
In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned, polished waxed and releathered in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.
Dimensions in cm:
Height 77 x Width 143 x Depth 83
Height 77 x Width 215 x Depth 83 - With slides open
Dimensions in inches:
Height 2 foot, 6 inches x Width 4 foot, 8 inches x Depth 2 foot, 9 inches
Height 2 foot, 6 inches x Width 7 feet, 1 inch x Depth 2 foot, 9 inches - With slides open
Kingwood
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: A2172
Regent Antiques has dated this piece to the 19th Century.
We specialise in english and continental furniture, silver, porcelain and decorative items.
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Regent Antiques Profile Page
Regent Antiques is a registered member of LAPADA CINOA
Antique French Kingwood & Ormolu Mounted Bureau Plat Desk 19th C
