Biedermeier Period Burl Walnut Console Table, Berlin, Germany c.1820

View Similar Items

Biedermeier Console Table, Walnut Veneer, Ebonized, South Germany, circa 1820

Biedermeier Console Table, North German, 1820, Mahogany

George II Period Walnut Pier / Console Table with Marble Top

Biedermeier Card Table, South German 1820, Walnut

Rare German Rococo 18th Century Period Console Table with Marble Top

Louis XV period Marble Top Console Table in Walnut, France c. 1760

Regency Period Mahogany Console Table with Inlaid Satinwood

Italian, Veneto, Walnut Neoclassical 1-Drawer Console Table (1 available)

English William IV Period Console Table, Carved Monopodia, Green Marble Top

Biedermeier Console Table, Two Drawers, Cherry Veneer, South Germany circa 1820

Biedermeier Console Table, Cherry Wood, Full Columns, South Germany circa 1820

"Il Pezzo 6 Console" console table in solid walnut and wenge top - nickel base

1 of 9

Biedermeier Period Burl Walnut Console Table, Berlin, Germany c.1820

About the Item

A stunning Biedermeier period console table from Berlin, Germany c.1820. Please take a moment to look at all of the accompanying photographs we have provided that show the exceptional workmanship utilized to create this singular piece of furniture. Because this table is a console it was designed with the intent of being visible from both sides as well as the front. You will notice that every available surface that is seen is enhanced in some way-either with timber that exhibits a marvelous pattern of grain, timber that has been lacquered black to resemble costly imported ebony or carved elements embellished with gold leaf to provide visual sparkle and glamour. The top of the console features a rectangular shape centred on four pieces of book matched strongly patterned walnut. The artisan who chose the walnut placed the timber in a manner to emphasize the dramatic movement of the grain in order to draw the eye. The natural grain of the walnut has formed a diamond shape achieved solely by the way the wood has been laid out and this effect is an example of the talent of the artisan who was able to see what could be done using the natural beauty of the timber. Important to remember when looking at a piece of this profound beauty is that the level of light available in most homes was what we would consider quite dim. The wealthier a household was the more elaborate the furnishings could be because there was enough money available to keep fires blazing in all of the hearths as well as candles and oil lamps burning. If light was not available then there was no point in lavishing extraordinary material in the creation of beautiful objects. Framing the four pieces of matched walnut is a wide band of grained walnut that features a strong pattern of light and dark. This change in pattern from the centre of the table top was again chosen for its dramatic impact when seen by daylight and the warmth of light used at night. The sides of the top are also veneered with figured walnut to continue the movement of the wood. Directly under the top is a piece of quarter round moulding that has been lacquered in a high gloss black that is also highly reflective in light. The use of this material derived from its appearance in furniture from earlier centuries where true ebony (imported at great cost from the tropics) was used for inlay in highly intricate designs. Because it was so expensive ebony was rarely used in solid form for table legs and moulding so this alternative was developed to give a similar appearance. The apron of this console has the addition of a concealed drawer in the front that is opened by easily pulling it forward by grasping the underside. The front of the apron and both sides are sheathed in walnut that has a wonderful pattern in the grain. The movement in the grain across these areas helps conceal the drawer because of the continuous movement of the pattern. The four legs that support the top continue the sense of drama as they are all ebonized timber with a highly reflective finish. The tradition of using ebony (imported at great expense from the tropics) in exquisitely made furniture is centuries old. But it was rarely wasted by using it for solid elements such as legs and moulding but was chosen for contrast. So a method was developed to mimic the effect of ebony. The two front legs taper from top to bottom not only in diametre but also in a beautiful set back angle that is all the more striking because these legs have the only curved angle on the entire piece. The top of the front legs are both encircled with a capital of gold set directly beneath the front corners of the apron while the base of the legs end in a sleeve of gilding before coming to rest on gilded spheres. The contrast between shape, material and colour all add to a sense of visual excitement packed into one piece. The back legs serve two purposes. The first is that they are indeed structural and provide overall support to the entire console. Fortunately the artisan chose to mask this necessity with a pair of half columns with gilded capitals and bases taken directly from classical antiquity in the ruins from Greek and Roman sites. These Simple Doric columns feature a wonderful aspect known as "entasis" where the columns actually bulge out slightly as they move from top to bottom. This subtle change in profile gives the columns a sense of balance and movement and further the illusion that they are carrying weight when in reality it is the flat board behind them that is performing the task of load bearing needed by the console. The entire console stands on an elevated platform that has a wonderful shape in the front known as an "inverted breakfront". This term is utilized to describe the front of a piece that is not straight across and inverted means the front profile is recessed as opposed to moving forward. The top of the lower platform also is enhanced in a similar manner to the top as the walnut is of a striking pattern. On this surface the walnut has been placed in four panels that run from front to back with exciting grain patterns. In addition the front and sides of the platform are also sheathed in exceptionally patterned walnut as are the four square shaped feet that the entire console stands upon. The choice to use such gorgeous walnut on the entire piece speaks of its extremely high level of quality as does the elegant proportion of the shapes employed. Biedermeier furniture from this era has a distinctiveness that moves well across the two centuries since it was first constructed and is an excellent choice whether one's taste is contemporary or traditional. At the beginning of the nineteenth century when furniture with this new streamlined appearance first debuted Biedermeier was considered a rather daring move away from the opulence of earlier interiors and was considered fresh and modern. This wonderful console table retains that feel today and will create an impact wherever it is placed in the twenty first century.

Dimensions:
Height: 34 in (86.36 cm)Width: 30 in (76.2 cm)Depth: 18.5 in (46.99 cm)
Style:
Biedermeier (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Burl,Gold Leaf,Walnut
Place of Origin:
Germany
Period:
19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
c.1820
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Houston, TX
Reference Number:
Seller: DN181stDibs: U1110038668547