19th Century Rosewood and Pietra Paesina Specimen Table Attributed

This magnificent games table incorporates some of the rarest English marbles, hardstones and fossil specimens, including Derbyshire Blue John. The scarcity of these coveted stones makes an inlaid circular piece of this size a truly exceptional and unique masterpiece. The tabletop, with its fabulous specimens surrounding an Ashford marble chessboard...

This remarkable rosewood centre table attributed to legendary firm Gillows showcases masterful craftsmanship and stunningly rare hardstone specimens. The table's base is ornately crafted, complete with lion's paw feet, emphasizing the quality of the wood. The most impressive element of this beautiful piece of furniture, however, is the exquisite inlaid table top. Featuring eighteen semi-precious and hardstone specimens artfully arranged in alternating geometric shapes, rare stones like gem quality Lapis Lazuli, Egyptian porphyry and Siberian amethyst dazzle the eye. Other stones and specimens inlaid in square, circle and hexagon shapes include pyrite lapis lazuli, malachite, green aventurine, agate of amethyst, greek spartan porphyry, labradorite, fossilized wood, occhio di pavone, brèche verte d'égypte, sicilian jaspers, blood stone, spanish brocatelle, siena brocatelle, convent siena and nero antico. The sheer variety and superb quality of these features is an overwhelming visual delight and a triumph of craftsmanship. Hardstone pieces such as this were popular among the British aristocracy...

This exquisite Regency-period rosewood table is distinguished by its remarkable specimen top. An exceptional relic of natural history, the tabletop, created circa 1840, bears nearly ...

This Louis XIV-style French table features an intricately carved giltwood base with an exceptional level of detail, providing an extraordinary example of the opulent style. The base ...

A masterpiece of both cabinetmaking and mechanical engineering, this one-of-a-kind expanding table was crafted by the renowned cabinetmaker Samuel Hawkins of London for the Great Exhibition of 1851. Diminutive in size, the fascinating table was designed as a model to demonstrate Hawkins’ innovative patent screw movement to visitors of the Exhibition – six million people in total over five months. It was exhibited again a century later at the Victoria & Albert Museum during the Festival of Britain, an event intended “to symbolise two main qualities of the national character: realism and strength on the one hand, and, on the other, independence and imagination” (Catalogue of the Exhibition, 1951, p.117). To this day, the miniature masterpiece demonstrates the quest of English furniture makers to combine technical innovation with superb craftsmanship. Displaying exceptional ingenuity, Hawkins’ wind-out screw mechanism allowed one to extend the table’s base to accommodate concentric leaves with the simple crank of a handle. It is based on the inventive expanding table originally designed by Robert Jupe in 1835, which used a swivel mechanism to separate sections of the tabletop and allow for segmented leaves to be inserted. Hawkins’ tabletop, on the other hand, extends outwards directly from the center in order to accommodate additional leaves around its diameter. This unique design allowed the mechanism to also smoothly operate on rectangular tables, which could be wound out from the middle to allow for more table space. Hawkins was not alone in his endeavor to combine the technical merits of engineering and mechanics with the most artful pursuit of cabinetmaking. The first half of the 19th century saw a prolific increase in the popularity of applying new ideas to traditional furniture principles, which allowed furniture to serve many purposes. The resulting “patent” furniture was practical and refined, though few were as innovative as Hawkins’ prodigious design. Carved with the year of the Exhibition on the beautifully designed pedestal base, the table is a testament to the significance of this innovation. The model is mentioned in detail in the catalog of the Great Exhibition of 1851, the first international exhibition of industry, manufacturing, and science. Held at London’s dazzling Crystal Palace, its visitors were treated to exhibits from around the globe, including feats of engineering, innovations in industry, and marvels of design. Queen Victoria herself was a frequent visitor, along with her husband, Prince Albert, and others including Charlotte...

This exquisite writing desk is crafted of rich mahogany and features the straightforward design prevalent in England during the early 19th century. A luxurious leather-covered top pr...

This extraordinary octagonal center table has a specimen marble chess table-top with Pietra Dura semi-precious stones. The late Regency specimen mar...

Important Palatial & Rare 19th Century Pietra Dura Giltwood Centre Table. This magnificent rectangular table incorporates an exquisitely inlaid Florentine Pietra Dura work of art. The truly incredibly and colourful hardstone specimens have been meticulously chosen & inlaid to form the most gorgeous floral display. It is amongst the finest of its type. This masterpiece is displayed on its original carved work of sculptural art, a baluster stem with acanthus leaves and raised on four acanthus leaf scrolled feet, the gilding, burnished in parts to perfection and highlighting a palatial majesty. The art of creating images by cutting hardstones and fitting them into a jigsaw of shapes, flowered under the Florentine Medici and is known as Pietra Dura. The technique of Pietra Dura is highly prized and widely used and can be found in settings ranging from antique jewellery boxes to the walls of the Taj Mahal. The development of the technique, often called ‘painting in stone’ was one of the many achievements of the Florentine Renaissance. Like many other forms of antique decorative art...

An exceptionally rare and fine 19th century marble top centre table of circu-lar form, the stunning micro mosaic marble top with c...

The circular top decorated with various specimen marbles including Rosso antico, serpentino, Giallo antico, Palombino, Malachite , Granito, Carrara .. ecc. Masterpiece of Italian c...

Antique, 19th century, center table features a beautifully carved, rosewood base with cabriole legs, acanthus knees and beveled edge marble top.

The circular top decorated with various specimen marbles including Rosso antico, serpentino, Giallo antico, Palombino, Malachite , Granito, Carrara .. ecc. Masterpiece of Italian cr...