Chinese Rosewood & Mother of Pearl Opium Coffee Table

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Chinese Rosewood & Mother of Pearl Opium Coffee Table

About the Item

This is a vintage Chinese rosewood and mother of pearl inlaid opium table, perfect as a coffee table, dating from the first half of the 20th Century. The solid rosewood was expertly inlaid with a fabulous marquetry of mother of pearl, showing typical Chinese floral motifs. The sides of the table have been expertly hand carved with pierced prunus decoration. A lot of work went into making this fabulous piece which would make a great coffee table. Condition: In excellent condition having been beautifully restored in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 38 x Width 112 x Depth 48 Dimensions in inches: Height 15.0 x Width 44.1 x Depth 18.9 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 fr om 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. Nacre also known as mother of pearl, is an organic-inorganic composite material produced by some molluscs as an inner shell layer; it is also what makes up the outer coating of pearls. It is strong, resilient, and iridescent. The outer layer of pearls and the inside layer of pearl oyster and freshwater pearl mussel shells are made of nacre. Both black and white nacre are and were used for design purposes. They were used as decorative motif used in cabinet making or silversmithing. The natural nacre may be artificially tinted to almost any colour. Nacre tesserae may be cut into shapes and laminated to a ceramic tile or marble base. The tesserae are hand-placed and closely sandwiched together, creating an irregular mosaic or pattern (such as a weave). The laminated material is typically about 2 mm thick. The tesserae are then lacquered and polished creating a durable and glossy surface.

Place of Origin:
China
Period:
1920-1929
Date of Manufacture:
c.1925
Condition:
Seller Location:
London, GB
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU95061416982