Antique Mahogany Cartonnier with Leather Drawers

• 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.
• Cartonnier - A cartonnier is an item of furniture that is used to store and organize items such as letters, documents, and other small items. It typically consists of a series of small drawers or compartments that are arranged in a vertical or horizontal fashion. The drawers or compartments are usually made of cardboard or a similar material, and they are often covered with a decorative fabric or paper to give them a more attractive appearance.
  
  Cartonniers are commonly used in offices, bedrooms, and other spaces where organization and storage are important. Some Cartonniers also have a desk incorporated into the design making it a functional piece of furniture. They can be freestanding or wall-mounted and can vary in size, from small, portable units to large, built-in models.
  
  Cartonniers were very popular in the 18th and 19th centuries

This item has been included into following indexes:

• chests of drawers, material - mahogany 898
• chests of drawers, period - Victorian 1,199