Specimen Derbyshire Blue John & Lemon Spar Giltwood Centre Table

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About the Item

Rare Specimen Blue John & Derbyshire Lemon Spar Giltwood Centre Table, the circular top incorporating an exceptional vibrant and highly figured circular panel of Blue John Derbyshire Flourspar set within a chevron reserve of Lemon Spar, 8 smaller circles of Blue John radiate around the border, alternately laid with parallel lines and radiating circles to match the large central panel, all the circles within a border of Ashford Black Marble. The whole top veneered on slate. The top is supported on a later wonderfully carved giltwood tripod base, after designs by Percier and Fontaine Blue John stone is a semi-precious mineral or fluorspar recognised by its beautiful radiating crystalline structure, which can only be mined at a site near the village of Castleton in Derbyshire. Its whereabouts were probably known from as early as 1700 through the discovery of various deposits, however, mining did not start until 1760 thereabouts, when local lapidaries probably began to make ornaments from it such as obelisks and decorative vases. The name ''Blue John'' comes from the French ''bleu-jeune'' or blue yellow. The deposits are not found as a single mass, rather in veins each with its own unique banding and colour, from beautiful shades of purple and blue through to creamy yellows and white. Although there are in fact many variants of each, historically grouped into fifteen named veins, with names such as Millers Vein, Treak Cliff Blue Vein, Bull Beef Vein, Winnats One Vein, Old Dining Room Vein, New Cavern Vein, New Dining Room Vein, Winnats 5 Vein, 12 Vein, Odin Vein, Old Tor Vein & the last found being Ridley Vein. One of its first recorded uses for decorative purposes must be the borders of a chimney-piece supplied to Nathaniel Curzon, 1st Baron Scarsdale in around 1761 for Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire under the supervision of Robert Adam. In the 1770s, Matthew Boulton also championed the natural beauty of the fluorspar, using it frequently in his wonderful vases and perfume-burners, often further enriched and embellished with ormolu mounts. Some of finest designed pieces were by Sir William Chambers, architect to George III, most of which still reside in the Royal Collection. Its use was further promoted throughout the 19th century by William Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire and his son William Cavendish, 7th Duke of Devonshire, where many of their Blue-John objects can be seen in the collections at Chatsworth. The most influential architects of the Empire style were Charles Percier ( 1764-1838 ) and Pierre-François-Léonard Fontaine ( 1762-1853 ). Percier and Fontaine became acquainted with each other while both were studying architecture in Paris. Percier won the Prix de Rome in 1786 and spent the following years studying in Rome with Fontaine, who became his lifelong friend. They returned to Paris in 1790 and set up their own practice. They became the Official Architects to Napoleon I, their main responsibility was the renovation of the various Royal residences, including Malmaison. Their 'Recueil des décorations intérieures', published in 1812 became the essential handbook of the Empire style. Approximate Size: Diameter: 30.75 inches Height: 33 inches A palatial masterpiece in design, beauty & rarity

Dimensions:
Height: 33 in (83.82 cm)Diameter: 30.75 in (78.11 cm)
Style:
Empire (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Stone,Wood,Gilt,Hand-Carved,Inlay
Place of Origin:
England
Period:
19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
Circa 1870
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
London, GB
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU1204229590222

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