19th Century French Rosewood Secretaire Chest

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19th Century French Rosewood Secretaire Chest

About the Item

This is a beautiful antique French rosewood secretaire chest with fabulous floral marquetry decorations, circa 1860 in date. The piece was skillfully crafted in rosewood and features lovely ormolu mounts with original locks and a key. The secretaire with two small drawers and one long one is housed in the first drawer. There are three additional long drawers all with original locks and handles which provide plenty of storage. The chest has also original keys. It is surmounted with a rosso marble top, and stands on elegant legs with pierced ormolu mounts. It is a lovely piece which would look lovely in a bedroom or a dressing room. Condition: In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 100.5 x Width 51.5 x Depth 37 Dimensions in inches: Height 3 feet, 4 inches x Width 1 foot, 8 inches x Depth 1 foot, 3 inches 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-coloured 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. Rosewood is a rich warm reddish brown wood that has a distinct grain with dark brown and black outlining. One variety of Rosewood can vary significantly from another even though it is of the same species. These Rosewoods, native of India, South East Asia and Brazil, were dense and awkward to work with. It was renowned for quickly bluntening cutting tools and visibly darkening in colour when over prepared. The Brazilian species of Rosewood was by far the most beautifully figured and therefore it became the most sought after and rare. This was the wood of choice for the great box makers, David and Thomas Edwards who used it to veneer some of their finest pieces. Our reference: 06501

Dimensions:
Height: 39.57 in (100.5 cm)Width: 20.28 in (51.5 cm)Depth: 14.57 in (37 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Marble,Ormolu,Rosewood,Marquetry
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
1860-1869
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1860
Condition:
Seller Location:
London, GB
Reference Number:
Seller: 065011stDibs: LU95063011302