What is a salon suite?

A salon suite is a matching set of reception room seating that typically includes a settee or sofa alongside several armchairs and side chairs. These groupings were designed to furnish formal entertaining spaces with a uniform aesthetic. In larger houses, these suites extended to eleven pieces, sometimes incorporating footstools to complete the drawing room arrangement.

How do I use a centre table?

A centre table stands free in the middle of a room rather than against a wall, serving as a focal point for display lamps, books, or decorative objects. Their finished sides allow them to be viewed from any angle in a spacious parlour. Octagonal and oval variations in walnut, rosewood, and coromandel provide a stable surface while adding rich timber grain to the room.

A loo table is a large occasional table with a circular or oval top mounted on a pillar and claw base. The top frequently tilts vertically so the table can be stored against the wall when floor space is needed. Cabinetmakers utilised figured walnut and rosewood for these tops, often highlighting the natural grain with inlaid borders.

How do I identify a credenza?

A credenza is a low freestanding sideboard or cabinet designed for formal parlours, usually featuring central glass doors flanked by curved side cupboards. They sit flush to the floor rather than on tall legs. Victorian makers applied burr walnut veneers, brass mounts, and marquetry to these pieces to display fine china and ornaments.