Object Description
This is a large antique Victorian hall umbrella, hat and coat stand, circa 1860 in date.
The hall stand is made of solid mahogany and features a demi-lune shaped pediment and a scrolled plume above two horizontal chamfered rails with nine turned mahogany coat hooks.
The bottom rail supporting a curved tubular brass rail with a metal-lined oval drip tray below. The coat stand is raised on a plinth base.
It is a stylish yet very practical item which would look lovely in any hall.
Condition:
In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation.
Dimensions in cm:
Height 219 x Width 154 x Depth 44
Dimensions in inches:
Height 7 foot, 2 inches x Width 5 feet, 1 inch x Depth 1 foot, 5 inches
Mahogany
is probably one of the largest ‘families’ of hardwood, having many different varieties within its own species.
Mahogany has been used for centuries in ship building, house building, furniture making etc and is the core structure of just about every 19th century vanity box, dressing case or jewellery box. It became more of a Victorian trend to dress Mahogany with these decorative veneers, such as Burr Walnut and Coromandel, so that the actual Mahogany was almost hidden from view.
Mahogany itself is a rich reddish brown wood that can range from being plain in appearance to something that is so vibrant, figured and almost three dimensional in effect.
Although Mahogany was most often used in its solid form, it also provided some beautifully figured varieties of veneer like ‘Flame’ Mahogany and ‘Fiddleback’ Mahogany (named after its preferred use in the manufacture of fine musical instruments).
Cuban Mahogany was so sought after, that by the late 1850′s, this particular variety became all but extinct.
Our reference: A2929