Object Description
This is a superb antique Victorian burr walnut and marquetry inlaid credenza, Circa 1850 in date.
Oozing sophistication and charm, this credenza is the absolute epitome of Victorian high society. Its attention to detail and lavish decoration are certain to draw the eye wherever you choose to place it in your home.
The entire piece highlights the unique and truly exceptional pattern of the burr walnut grain extremely well. It is beautifully decorated with fabulous gilded ormolu mounts, and the central oval panel has stunning intricate hand cut floral marquetry decoration on an ebonised background, which was the work of a Victorian master craftsman.
This credenza is bow ended with elegant bow glass doors on either side, with a panelled door in the centre which opens to reveal a cupboard with plenty of room to house your drinks, glasses, crockery, etc.
Its attention to detail and lavish ormolu decorations are certain to draw the eye wherever you choose to place it in your home.
Condition:
In excellent condition having been beautifully restored and the interior relined in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.
Dimensions in cm:
Height 104 x Width 176 x Depth 45
Dimensions in inches:
Height 3 feet, 5 inches x Width 5 feet, 9 inches x Depth 1 foot, 6 inches
“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 produce some of the most complex and beautiful figuring you can find.
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.
Marquetry is decorative artistry where pieces of material (such as wood, mother of pearl, pewter, brass silver or shell) of different colours are inserted into surface wood veneer to form intricate patterns such as scrolls or flowers.
The technique of veneered marquetry had its inspiration in 16th century Florence. Marquetry elaborated upon Florentine techniques of inlaying solid marble slabs with designs formed of fitted marbles, jaspers and semi-precious stones. This work, called opere di commessi, has medieval parallels in Central Italian “Cosmati”-work of inlaid marble floors, altars and columns. The technique is known in English as pietra dura, for the “hardstones” used: onyx, jasper, cornelian, lapis lazuli and colored marbles. In Florence, the Chapel of the Medici at San Lorenzo is completely covered in a colored marble facing using this demanding jig-sawn technique.
Techniques of wood marquetry were developed in Antwerp and other Flemish centers of luxury cabinet-making during the early 16th century. The craft was imported full-blown to France after the mid-seventeenth century, to create furniture of unprecedented luxury being made at the royal manufactory of the Gobelins, charged with providing furnishings to decorate Versailles and the other royal residences of Louis XIV. Early masters of French marquetry were the Fleming Pierre Golle and his son-in-law, André-Charles Boulle, who founded a dynasty of royal and Parisian cabinet-makers (ébénistes) and gave his name to a technique of marquetry employing shell and brass with pewter in arabesque or intricately foliate designs.
Our reference: 04378
Please feel free to email or call us to arrange a viewing in our North London warehouse.
Shipping:
We ship worldwide and deliver to Mainland UK addresses free of charge.
A shipping cost to all other destinations must be requested prior to purchase.
Delivery and return policy:
We require that someone be home on the agreed delivery day if applicable, otherwise a redelivery fee will apply.
In accordance with Distance Selling Regulations, we offer a 14-day money back guarantee if you are not satisfied with the item.
The item must be returned in its original packaging and condition.
Unless the item is not as described in a material way, the buyer is responsible for return shipping expenses.
Buyers are fully responsible for any customs duties or local taxes that may be incurred on items sent outside of the European Union.