A N.Z. Colonial W.H. Jewell (Hereford Street, Christchurch)…
click the photo to enlarge
A N.Z. Colonial W.H. Jewell (Hereford Street, Christchurch) exotic woods side table, the rectangular top with multiple layered four pointed star central inlay on a burr totara ground within a multiple banded border, chamfered edge. Timbers include rewarewa, kauri, black mairi, etc., the underside of the top with a large original maker's label 'Advance New Zealand. Ornithology, Conchology, Mineralogy, Botany, & c&c. W.H. Jewell Hereford Street, Christchurch. Has on sale a large collection of N.Z. Woodware, Bird Skins, Fern Tree, and a Pawa (sic) Shell Work....'. This label measuring 22 x 14 cm A further handwritten label inscribed 'Mrs Mayberry. To Be Collected'. The late 19th century walnut base of four turned splayed legs with lower square shelf. 60.5 x 50.5 x 63.5 cm provenance: This table was recently located in England, it is presumed that it was made to the order of Mrs Mayberry, named to label beneath top, then taken to England where the walnut base was added. The English passion for the colonial exotic is well represented with items listed on the large Jewell label attached to this table. This table is in original as found condition with minor marks to top and the lower shelf requiring attention.

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.

This item has been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.
  • Turning - Any part of a piece of furniture that has been turned and shaped with chisels on a lathe. Turned sections include legs, columns, feet, finials, pedestals, stretchers, spindles etc. There have been many varieties and fashions over the centuries: baluster, melon, barley-sugar, bobbin, cotton-reel, rope-twist, and so on. Split turning implies a turned section that has been cut in half lengthwise and applied to a cabinet front as a false decorative support.
  • Parquetry - Parquetry is inlay laid in geometric patterns, the contrast being achieved by the opposing angles of the grain and veneers. The herringbone pattern is the most commonly used in flooring, but this is almost never seen in furniture - the patterns used are more complex and unlike flooring, can include several different varieties of timber.
  • Bevel / Chamfer - In furniture making, a chamfered corner refers to a technique used to create a smooth, angled edge on the corner of a piece of furniture. This is typically done by cutting away a small portion of the corner at an angle, typically 45 degrees, creating a diagonal edge, rather than a sharp 90-degree angle. This technique can be used on various parts of a piece of furniture such as table legs, drawer fronts, or door frames. Chamfering can add visual interest to a piece and can help to soften the overall look of a piece of furniture. It is often used in conjunction with other techniques, such as rounding edges or using contrasting wood species to create a more elegant, sophisticated look. Chamfering is a simple way to add a touch of elegance to a piece of furniture and it is a common technique used by furniture makers.
  • Inlay - Decorative patterns inserted into the main body of a piece of furniture, generally in wood of contrasting colour and grain, though brass, ivory, ebony, shell and sometimes horn have been used. Inlay may consist of a panel of well figured timber inset into a cabinet door front, geometric patterns, or complex and stylized designs of flowers, swags of foliage, fruits and other motifs. As a general rule, in pieces where the carcase is constructed in the solid, the inlay is relatively simple such as stringing, cross banding and herringbone banding. Where more elaborate and decorative work was required veneer was used. Inlay has been fashionable from at least the latter half of the 17th century, when a variety of elaborate forms were developed
  • Burr - Burr (or in the USA, burl) is the timber from the knotted roots or deformed branch of the tree, which when cut, displays the small circular knots in various gradations of colour. It is always cut into a decorative veneer, most commonly seen as burr walnut on 19th century furniture.
  • Kauri - An evergreen conifer tree associated with New Zealand, but also grown in northern Australia, and islands around the Pacific rim including Borneo, Vanuatu and New Guinea. The timber is generally golden in colour, and straight grained without much knotting.

    A by-product of the kauri tree was the kauri gum, the fossilised resin extracted from the tree. The gum was obtained through digging, fossicking in treetops, or more drastically, by bleeding live trees. Kauri gum was used in the manufacture of varnishes and other resin-based products, and also crafted into jewellery, keepsakes, and small decorative items.

    Kauri forests were prolific in the north of the North Island of New Zealand. European settlers in the 1700 and 1800s realised that the timber from these tall trees with broad trunks would be ideal for ship building and construction and a thriving industry was established harvesting the kauri tree. The forests were substantially reduced, and now the remaining Kauri trees that grow in New Zealand are protected, and there are reserves in various areas of the North Island.

    The remaining stands of kauri in New Zealand are under threat from "kauri disease", a microscopic organism that causes dieback in the trees, with vast tracts either dead or dying.
  • Provenance - A term used to describe the provable history of an antique or work of art, and thus an additional aid to verifying its authenticity. Provenance can have an inflating effect on the price of an item, particularly if the provenance relates to the early settlement of Australia, a famous person, or royalty. Less significant are previous sales of the item through an auction house or dealer.

This item has been included into following indexes:

Visually similar items

A rustic European table, standing on four turned legs. Three brass knobbed drawers to the frieze under a massive two plank walnut top. Height 82 cm, length 192 cm, width 96 cm.

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

A French provincial style twin pedestal refectory table, the solid top with an ebonised border, above baluster supports and a central stretcher, 250 x 80.5 x 109 cm

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

An 18th century Italian walnut rectangular console table with single drawer, raised on four turned legs united by stretchers. 78 cm high, 157 cm long, 53.5 cm deep.

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

A carved walnut and marquetry fold-over stretcher table, Swiss 18th century, 77 cm high, 144 cm wide, 64 cm deep

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.