Object Description
This is a very attractive Antique Victorian Gillows Style Birdseye Maple writing table, circa 1880 in date.
The rectangular top features a moulded edge with the original inset black blind tooled leather writing surface with two capacious drawers in the frieze.
This functional and elegant table is supported by four tapered, turned legs with acanthus carved decoration which terminate in brass castors.
This is a top quality antique writing table, crafted in the typical Gillows style and featuring a delicately banded birdseye maple writing surface which is worthy of detailed inspection.
Condition:
In really excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned, polished and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.
Dimensions in cm:
Height 74 cm x Width 92 cm x Depth 68 cm
Dimensions in inches:
Height 2 foot, 5 inches x Width 3 foot x Depth 2 foot, 3 inches
Birdseye Maple
occurs primarily in Sugar Maple and is a very hard wood with divergent grain structure caused by the presence of the Birdseyes.
In the days when all furniture was made essentially by hand, Birdseye Maple was used by only the most capable cabinetmakers. These artisans had developed the tools and skills to work and finish Birdseye Maple successfully. Antique furniture made out of Birdseye Maple is rare and beautiful.
The divergent grain that makes Birdseye Maple beautiful also makes it difficult to work. Early woodworking machines ran at low rpms and had only 2 knives per cutterhead. This often produced Birdseye surfaces that were chipped and torn. It took many hours of hand planing and scraping to get these surfaces to a high sheen.
This limited the use of Birdseye maple to projects whose value could justify the extra labour cost. Examples of this are fine furniture and musical instruments.
Our reference: A4405