Object Description
This is an exquisite fine quality antique Edwardian revolving bookcase, circa 1900 in date.
This lovely piece is made of flame mahogany with satin wood crossbanding and line inlaid decoration.
The bookcase revolves on an X cross base with a solid cast iron bracket, the best quality revolving bookcases had cast iron bases, as this meant that they would be sturdy and not tip when full of books, whereas the lesser versions had simple wooden bases.
The quality and attention to detail throughout is second to none. It is a lovely piece which is sure to attract a lot of attention from your guests.
Condition:
You are viewing this item in it’s excellent original untouched condition.
Dimensions in cm:
Height 86 cm x Width 55 cm x Depth 55 cm
Dimensions in inches:
Height 2 foot, 10 inches x Width 1 foot, 10 inches x Depth 1 foot, 10 inches
Flame Mahogany
Thomas Sheraton – 18th century furniture designer, once characterized mahogany as “best suited to furniture where strength is demanded as well as a wood that works up easily, has a beautiful figure and polishes so well that it is an ornament to any room in which it may be placed.” Matching his words to his work, Sheraton designed much mahogany furniture. The qualities that impressed Sheraton are particularly evident in a distinctive pattern of wood called “flame mahogany.”
The flame figure in the wood is revealed by slicing through the face of the branch at the point where it joins another element of the tree.
Satinwood
is a hard and durable wood with a satinlike sheen, much used in cabinetmaking, especially in marquetry. It comes from two tropical trees of the family Rutaceae (rue family). East Indian or Ceylon satinwood is the yellowish or dark-brown heartwood of Chloroxylon swietenia.
The lustrous, fine-grained, usually figured wood is used for furniture, cabinetwork, veneers, and backs of brushes. West Indian satinwood, sometimes called yellow wood, is considered superior. It is the golden yellow, lustrous, even-grained wood found in the Florida Keys and the West Indies.
It has long been valued for furniture. It is also used for musical instruments, veneers, and other purposes. Satinwood is classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Sapindales, family Rutaceae.
Our reference: A4773