Pair of French Empire Mahogany Side Cabinets Bedside Cabinets, 19th Century

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Pair of French Empire Mahogany Side Cabinets Bedside Cabinets, 19th Century

About the Item

A fine pair of antique French Empire mahogany and gilded ormolu side cabinets with stunning mottled grey marble inset tops circa 1870 in date. The beautiful cylindrical cupboards feature doors decoratively mounted with a pair of ormolu winged cherubs holding a laurel wreath which open to reveal a low shelf. They are raised on a circular stem on a triform base fitted with three beautifully carved giltwood dolphins the base terminating in stunning ormolu lion's paw feet. Add a decorative and opulent touch to your home with these beautiful cabinets. Condition: In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned and polished in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 85 x width 42 x depth 42 Dimensions in inches: Height 33.5 x width 16.5 x depth 16.5 Mahogany is probably one of the largest ‘families’ of hardwood, having many different varieties within its own species. Mahogany has been used for centuries in ship building, house building, furniture making etc. and is the core structure of just about every 19th century vanity box, dressing case or jewelry box. It became more of a Victorian trend to dress Mahogany with these decorative veneers, such as rosewood, Kingwood, burr walnut and Coromandel, so that the actual mahogany was almost hidden from view. Mahogany itself is a rich reddish brown wood that can range from being plain in appearance to something that is so vibrant, figured and almost three dimensional in effect. Although mahogany was most often used in its solid form, it also provided some beautifully figured varieties of veneer like ‘Flame’ mahogany and ‘Fiddleback’ mahogany (named after its preferred use in the manufacture of fine musical instruments). Ormolu - (from French 'or moulu', signifying ground or pounded gold) is an 18th century English term for applying finely ground, high-carat gold in a mercury amalgam to an object of bronze. The mercury is driven off in a kiln leaving behind a gold-colored veneer known as 'gilt bronze'. The manufacture of true ormolu employs a process known as mercury-gilding or fire-gilding, in which a solution of nitrate of mercury is applied to a piece of copper, brass, or bronze, followed by the application of an amalgam of gold and mercury. The item was then exposed to extreme heat until the mercury burned off and the gold remained, adhered to the metal object. Therefore, other techniques were used instead but nothing surpasses the original mercury-firing ormolu method for sheer beauty and richness of colour. Electroplating is the most common modern technique. Ormolu techniques are essentially the same as those used on silver, to produce silver-gilt (also known as vermeil).

Dimensions:
Height: 33.47 in (85 cm)Width: 16.54 in (42 cm)Depth: 16.54 in (42 cm)
Sold As:
Set of 2
Style:
Empire (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Giltwood,Mahogany,Marble,Ormolu,Gilt
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
1870-1879
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1870
Condition:
Seller Location:
London, GB
Reference Number:
Seller: 098791stDibs: LU950616938121