Serpentine Side Table with Ornate Gallery and X-Stretcher Base
You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item
When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.
- Mahogany - Mahogany is a dense, close grained red-coloured timber from the West Indies and Central America. It was first imported into Europe in the the early 18th century and its use continued through the 19th century. It was popular for furniture making because of its strength, the wide boards available, the distinctive grain on some boards, termed flame mahogany and the rich warm colour of the timber when it was polished.. The "flame" was produced where a limb grew out from the trunk of the tree, and this timber was usually sliced into veneers for feature panels on doors, backs and cornices.
Some terms used to describe mahogany relate to the country from which it originally came, such as "Cuban" mahogany, "Honduras" mahogany etc. However unless the wood has been tested the names assigned are more a selling feature, rather than a true indication of the timber's origin. - Serpentine - Resembling a serpent, in the form of an elongated 'S'. A serpentine front is similar to a bow front, except that the curve is shallow at each end, swelling towards the middle. The term presumably derives from its similarity to a moving snake or serpent. Serpentine fronts are usually veneered, with the carcase either being cut and shaped from a solid piece of timber, or built in the 'brick' method.
- Pierced Decoration - Ornamental woodwork with part of the background cut through and removed to produce an open-work pattern.
- Gallery - On furniture, a gallery is a small upright section, frequently pierced and decorated, around the tops of small items of furniture, such as davenports, side tables, and so forth. Galleries are made in brass or bronze,and be fretted, pierced or solid timber. A three-quarter gallery is one that surrounds three of the four sides of a table, desk or other top.
This item has been included into following indexes:
Visually similar items
A giltwood marble top console table, with central floral bocage to base French, late 19th century early 20th century, 97 cm high, 168 cm wide, 61 cm deep
A fine marquetry and gilt bronze mounted serpentine side table, French 19th century
A small mahogany Galleried table 20th century. In the manner of a mid-eighteenth century tea or china table with a serpentine rectangular top with a fretwork gallery, a beaded apron and raised on tapering legs with fluted motifs to spade feet, with a curva
A 19th century Boulle manner cut brass inlaid fold over card table serpentine rectangular top, with inlaid panels to the top, sides and reverse, green baize interior, losses and lifting to inlay in places, cabriole legs, 88 x 76.5 x 44 cm