Antique French Pollard Oak Games Roulette Table 19th Century

About the Item

This is a fabulous high quality antique French Pollard Oak, roulette games table, Circa 1860 in date. The games table top is veneered in superb pollard oak with boxwood line inlaid decoration, and the table made of solid oak. The removable rectangular top is inlaid with two chessboards to the reverse, it lifts off to reveal a hinged baize playing surface for cards. The playing surface slides open to reveal a roulette wheel and the roulette playing surface. The roulette wheel can be removed to reveal a backgammon board. It is complete with a cased set of gaming chips and various gambling accoutrements. The table is raised on fluted square section supports with ormolu caps and porcelain castors It is an elegant piece which will enhance a special room in your home. Condition: In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned and polished in our workshops, the baize for the card table and the Roulette is original and also in excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 90 cm x Width 52 cm x Depth 77 cm Dimensions in inches: Height 2 foot, 11 inches x Width 1 foot, 8 inches x Depth 2 foot, 6 inches Roulette is a casino game named after the French word meaning little wheel. In the game, players may choose to place bets on either a single number or a range of numbers, the colors red or black, or whether the number is odd or even. Pollard Oak Pollarding is a pruning system in which the upper branches of a tree are removed, promoting a dense head of foliage and branches. It has been common in Europe since medieval times and is practised today in urban areas worldwide, primarily to maintain trees at a predetermined height. The bole of the tree, constantly cut back over a period of years, will eventually form a lump, or ‘burr’, which when sawn for veneer, gives a lovely grained, swirling figure. The effect is similar to that of burr walnut with its distinctive speckled grain. Burrs, or ‘burls’, are growths which appear on the side of tree trunks, resulting from a tree undergoing some form of stress. They may be caused by an injury, virus or fungus. During the 19th century great strides were made in the mechanisation of cabinet making. Marc Isambard Brunel [ Isambard Kingdom’s father] built the first steam driven saw mill, and invented a circular saw that could be used to cut veneers thinly and evenly for the first time. He also developed the first hydraulic veneer press. The figured wood cut from burrs and pollards is notoriously difficult to cut and lay: the wild grain which makes it so attractive results in a very delicate, brittle veneer. The new machines enabled the Victorian craftsmen to make the most of these beautiful timbers. Our reference: A3835

Dimensions:

Height: 35.44 in (90 cm)Width: 20.48 in (52 cm)Depth: 30.32 in (77 cm)

Sold As:

Set of 2

Materials and Techniques:

Oak

Period:

1860-1869

Date of Manufacture:

Circa 1860

Condition:

Seller Location: