Specimen Derbyshire Blue John & Lemon Spar Giltwood Centre Table

View Similar Items

Ormolu Marble Top French Oval Centre Table

19th Century Charles X Walnut Guéridon or Centre Table

Centre table Susanne Fjeldsøe Mygge by France & Sons - cado

Rare and Period Italian Neoclassical Scagliola Centre Table or Gueridon

19th Century Gueridon Centre Table with Sèvres Style Porcelain Panels

Rare Centre Table with a Campan Rubané Marble Top by François Linke

Fine English William IV Carved Birdseye Maple and Rosewood Centre Table

19th Century Specimen Marble and Giltwood Centre Table

Antique Giltwood and Scagliola Circular Table, after Della Valle Brothers

French Louis XVI Style Belle Époque Oval Giltwood Carved Marble-Top Center Table

Regency Specimen Marble Centre Table

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

More From This Seller

View All

Early/Mid-Century French Polished Steel Flower Gueridon Table

Located in London, by appointment only

A highly polished steel Gueridon occasional table with the shiny steel leaves and petals of a flower. This table dates to the early 20th century during the art deco period, it was...

Category

20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Gueridon

Materials

Steel

Early/Mid-Century French Polished Steel Flower Gueridon Table

$11,662

French Modernist Polished Steel Centre Table

By Jean Prouvé

Located in London, by appointment only

France, circa 1950. A polished steel rectangular center table on column supports with splayed bracket feet. In the manner of Jean Prouvé. Measures: Height 30 ins (76 cm). Widt...

Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Center Tables

Materials

Steel

French Modernist Polished Steel Centre Table

$6,722

Important 19th Century Florentine Marble Centre Table

Located in London, by appointment only

Important 19th century Florentine Granito Verde Della Sedia Di San Lorenzo and specimen marble inlaid ebonized parcel gilt centre table. The powerful centre is set with quarter veneered and incredibly rare ancient Egyptian stone...

Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Center Tables

Materials

Porphyry

Important 19th Century Florentine Marble Centre Table

$53,508 Sale Price

74% Off

Exceptional 19th Century Centre Table Attributed to Holland & Sons

By Holland & Sons

Located in London, by appointment only

• One of the finest pieces of 19th century English furniture ever made • Firmly attributed to the Royal cabinetmaker, Holland & Sons • Made using stunning rare & exotic timbers, Th...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century British Early Victorian Center Tables

Materials

Ormolu

Exceptional 19th Century Centre Table Attributed to Holland & Sons

$48,020

19th Century Italian Specimen Pietra Dura Table Attributed To Giacomo Raffaelli

By Giacomo Raffaelli, Gillows of Lancaster & London

Located in London, by appointment only

One of the most important early nineteenth century specimen hardstone table tops ever created, with 373 specimens, mounted on a beautifully designed and constructed base by Gillow. ...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Italian Regency Center Tables

Materials

Agate, Amethyst, Carnelian, Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Belgian Black Marbl...

19th Century Italian Specimen Pietra Dura Table Attributed To Giacomo Raffaelli

$53,508 Sale Price

40% Off

Gillows Early 19th Century Quarter-Sawn Oak Centre Table w/ New Custom Leaves

By Gillows of Lancaster & London

Located in London, by appointment only

A fabulous and powerful mid-19th century quarter-sawn oak centre table, now with custom made Corian extending leaves supported on the original slide-out bearers. The top supported on...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century British Regency Dining Room Tables

Materials

Oak

Located in Brighton, West Sussex

An important and rare gilt-bronze, mahogany and Bois Satiné centre table, with campan rubané marble top. By François Linke. Linke index number 1103. The g...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Belle Époque Center Tables

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Rare Centre Table with a Campan Rubané Marble Top by François Linke

$205,802

More Ways To Browse

Fluorspar Vases

Pierre Francois Leonard Fontaine

Fluorspar Vases

View All Popular Center Tables Searches