Antiques Associations Members Tray Tables

This is a truly exceptional antique English Edwardian mahogany and satinwood marquetry oval two tier 'etagere', in the manner of Edwards & Roberts, circa 1890 in date. Crafted from the best flame mahogany, note the wonderful grain to the wood and the beautifully inlaid decoration with musical trophies within scrolling foliage and kingwood crossbanding. Masterfully inlaid with Sheraton influences, this etagere has an elegant refined look. The removable glass bottomed tray can be used to serve drinks, etc. It is raised on elegant square section tapering outswept legs with a shaped cross stretcher. The craftsmanship and finish are second to none. THE BOTANICAL NAME FOR THE MAHOGANY THIS ITEM IS MADE OF IS SWIETENIA MACROPHYLLA AND THIS TYPE OF MAHOGANY IS NOT SUBJECT TO CITES REGULATION. Condition: In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 84 x Width 89 x Depth 55 Dimensions in inches: Height 33.1 x Width 35.0 x Depth 21.7 Edwards & Roberts was founded in 1845, and had premises at 21 Wardour Street London. By the 1892 they occupied more than a dozen buildings in Wardour Street, where they continued to trade until the end of the century. They became one of the leading London cabinet makers and retailers working in a variety of styles, both modern and revivalist. Their business also involved retailing, adapting and restoring the finest antique furniture and there are many examples of their earlier furniture with later embellishments bearing their stamp. Edwards & Roberts specialised in marquetry, inlay and ormolu. Marquetry is decorative artistry where pieces of material (such as wood, pewter, or brass silver) of different colours are inserted into surface wood veneer to form intricate patterns such as scrolls or flowers. The technique of veneered marquetry had its inspiration in 16th century Florence. Marquetry elaborated upon Florentine techniques of inlaying solid marble slabs with designs formed of fitted marbles, jaspers and semi-precious stones. This work, called opere di commessi, has medieval parallels in Central Italian "Cosmati"-work of inlaid marble floors, altars and columns. The technique is known in English as pietra dura, for the "hardstones" used: onyx, jasper, cornelian, lapis lazuli and colored marbles. In Florence, the Chapel of the Medici at San Lorenzo is completely covered in a colored marble facing using this demanding jig-sawn technique. Techniques of wood marquetry were developed in Antwerp and other Flemish centers of luxury cabinet-making during the early 16th century. The craft was imported full-blown to France after the mid-seventeenth century, to create furniture of unprecedented luxury being made at the royal manufactory of the Gobelins, charged with providing furnishings to decorate Versailles and the other royal residences of Louis XIV. Early masters of French marquetry were the Fleming Pierre Golle and his son-in-law, André-Charles Boulle, who founded a dynasty of royal and Parisian cabinet-makers (ébénistes) and gave his name to a technique of marquetry employing brass with pewter in arabesque or intricately foliate designs. Etagère is a piece of light furniture which was extensively made in France during the latter part of the 18th century. It consists of a series of stages or shelves for the reception of ornaments or other small articles. Like the what-not it was very often cornerwise in shape, and the best Louis XVI examples in exotic woods are exceedingly graceful and elegant. In modern usage, an étagère is often used to refer specifically to a long-legged shelf unit that fits over a bathroom toilet...

Scalloped shape reddish brown tray with vibrant floral design, later faux bamboo base. Provenance; Estate of John Volk. Noted Palm Beach architect.

A very good quality late 18th century, Georgian period, mahogany oval butlers tray of Panelled design, retaining original brass hinges to folding sides with pierced carrying handles, raised on later square leg mahogany stand. During the 18th and 19th centuries a coffee table was not what we regard as a coffee table in the 21st century. Coffee tables back then were always full height, effectively side tables. The modern, low, coffee table is really something which began to be seen during the early 20th century onwards. Based on the above there is a variety of different methods to incorporate a coffee table into an interior for people who wish to furnish their properties with genuine antique furniture, whilst still allowing for the practicalities and function which is required in modern times. Therefore as is now normal with by far the majority of these butlers trays which we see, due to the fact they make absolutely perfect coffee tables, this has been removed from its original, tall, folding stand at some point and fitted onto a lower, more practical and sturdy stand constructed from old antique wood. It’s worth noting that generally this means an old broken table...

This exceptionally beautiful and rare silver-inlaid brass tray stand dates from the medieval period, when the Mamluks ruled Egypt and Syria (1250-1517). The Mamluks originated as slave-soldiers, who served the Muslim caliphs and Ottoman Empire. With time, the Mamluks became a powerful military caste, and they managed to take control and establish themselves as rulers of certain areas within the Abbasid caliphate. The Mamluk dynasty commissioned great works of art and architecture, particularly in Cairo, the capital city of Egypt, which was described in the 14th Century as ‘the centre of the universe and garden of the world’ (Ibn Khaldun, 1382). This tray stand is of biconical form, with a raised central band and flared base and rim. It is decorated with scrolling vines, overlaid with Thuluth inscriptions and roundels. On the lower body, the roundels contain floral motifs, and in the upper, stylised depictions of birds. The Thuluth inscriptions praise the patron, referring to him as ‘The High authority, the Lordly, the Possessor’, and ‘the learned’. The underside of the rim is engraved with a heraldic medallion, possibly the patron’s symbol. In the middle ages, when this piece was made, this item would have stood in a grand interior, supporting a tray full of fruit and fine food. The owner of this lavish piece which still bears traces of its original silver inlay would likely have been an Amir (prince) or some other important figure who was close to the Sultan in the Mamluk court. Mamluk tray...

Burgundy papier mâché lacquered tray and base, Impressed "Clay" for Henry Clay, circa 1815 The burgundy-ground "papier mâché" lacquered tray...

A Fantastic Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Louis XV Style Two Tier Parquetry Tea Table With inlaid diamond parquetry top...

Oval with red ground and gilt leaf tip outer border, beautifully painted central pastural scene.

This exceptional tray table was hand crafted by the renowned B. Walton Company, premier English craftsmen of paper-mâché. The sizable green tray has beautifully gilt and scalloped ri...

Depicting pagodas in an exotic landscape. Stamped Clay / London on back. With later base. Ex Christies Sale , Oct 17, 1997 lot 73.

The rectangular top of this table tilts up to display a scagliola landscape scene showing the ruins of the Roman Forum, the Temples of Vespasian and Saturn, the Column of Phocas and ...

This fine satinwood tea table is made by the highly celebrated Parisian cabinetmaker Francois Linke (French, 1855-1946). The table features a glass tray of rectangular shape which si...

Lapis lazuli, malachite and silvered bronze étagère jewellery case table Italian, 19th Century Height 95cm, width 41cm, depth 29cm The finest ma...

Pair of antique Japanese Lacquer Trays, Taisho period (1912-1926) beautifully decorated with a miniature landscape of pea pods on the vine and a gold cricket set...

This exceptional papier mâché tray is highly decorated and sits on a clustered bamboo style frame. The black and gilt painted scene is of an Asian country estate with a typical stone...

A very pleasing 19th century English red painted tole tray, having a rural family scene out side an old farm house painted to the centre, a red boarder and set in a gilded frame with...

A very attractive mid 19th century oblong papier maché tray having elegant hand painted and gilded floral decoration housed on later square tapered leg stand (What better way t...

A Fine Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Louis XV Style Two Tier Tea Table By Paul Sormani Paul Sormani The oval upper tier surmounted by a bron...

A fine quality late 19th century satinwood oval two tier etagere, or dumbwaiter, having removable lift off glass tray top and superbly figured veneers with crossbanded and inlaid dec...

Sn4484, late Victorian satinwood tray table of oval form with two-tier decorated with sunburst inlays and solid shaped gallery with turned finials, standing on slender, string inlaid...

This beautiful table was created in England in the Victorian period by the acclaimed cabinetmakers, Edwards & Roberts. The company were based in London, where they established a name for themselves creating fine quality, fashionable pieces in 18th and 19th century English and French styles. This two-tiered table — with its elegant cabriole legs and wonderful floral marquetry designs — is a prime example of fine Edwards & Roberts furniture. The table is supported on four curving cabriole legs, which are set on scrolling gilt bronze feet and mounted with gilt bronze grotesque...