Antique French Napoleon III Revival Poudreuse Writing Table, 19th Century

This is an exquisite antique French Napoleon III birdseye maple Tantalus Cave a Liqueur, circa 1860 in date. It features brass inlaid decoration on the top and front with tulip wood banding. The hinged lid and the hinged sides open to reveal a lift-out stand fitted with four liquor decanters and stoppers and sixteen glasses. Complete with original working lock and key, it is an absolutely superb set which is sure to attract a lot of attention. Condition: In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation of condition. Complete with 14 original glasses and 2 that have been added later. Dimensions in cm: Height 41 cm x Width 31 cm x Depth 23 cm Dimensions in inches: Height 1 foot, 4 inches x Width 1 foot x Depth 9 inches Tantalus is a type of liquor decanter in which the bottle stoppers are locked down tightly by a metal bar. This was to prevent the theft of the contents by servants. Like the name suggests, the decanters themselves are visible, drawing temptation while unattainable. A key is required for entry. The most common types of tantalus holds three bottles or decanters while there are also smaller types housing only two. There are many different forms of tantalus. Often the encasement has metal handles on both sides and ornately carved decor. Crystal and metal versions are also a beautiful option when choosing a tantalus. Tantalus derived its name from the story of the mythological Greek king...

This is a beautiful antique French kidney shaped occasional table, circa 1860 in date. It has been masterfully crafted from beautiful wood with a star burst design and gallered sides over a shaped frieze with a drawer. It is raised on a pair of elegant tapering cabriole legs united by an undertier with a three quarter pieced brass gallery and raised on sabot mounted feet. Add a elegant touch to your home with this exceptional piece of antique French furniture...

This is a fine antique French Directoire marble topped and ormolu mounted mahogany console table, dating from Circa 1840. The shaped Carrara marble top features a decorative three quarter pieced brass gallery over a frieze drawer decorated with beaded panels. It is raised on four elegant tapering and fluted Doric columns united by an undertier on cone shaped ormolu mounted feet. It has beautifully refined proportions and retains excellent colour and patination. The Botanical name for the mahogany this item is made of is Swietenia Macrophylla and this type of mahogany is not subject to cites regulation. Condition: In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned, polished and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 87 x Width 87 x Depth 32 Dimensions in inches: Height 2 foot, 10 inches x Width 2 foot, 10 inches x Depth 1 foot, 1 inch Directoire style was a period in the decorative arts, fashion, and especially furniture design in France concurrent with the Directory (November 2, 1795–November 10, 1799), the later part of the French Revolution. The style uses Neoclassical architectural forms, minimal carving, planar expanses of highly grained veneers, and applied decorative painting. It is a style transitional between Louis XVI and Empire. The Directoire style was primarily established by the architects and designers Charles Percier (1764–1838) and Pier François Léonard Fontaine (1762–1853). In its use of Neoclassical architectural form and decorative motifs the style anticipates the slightly later and more elaborate Empire style, which was introduced after Napoleon established the First French Empire. It reflected the Revolutionary belief in the values of republican Rome. Ormolu - Gilt Bronze (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. Carrara marble - is a type of white or blue-grey marble popular for use in sculpture and building decor. It is quarried at the city of Carrara in the province of Massa-Carrara (Tuscany, Italy). Carrara marble has been used since the time of Ancient Rome; the Pantheon and Trajan's Column in Rome are constructed of it. Many sculptures of the Renaissance, such as Michelangelo's David, were carved from Carrara marble. For Michelangelo at least, Carrara marble was valued above all other stone, except perhaps that of his own quarry in Pietrasanta. The Marble Arch in London and the Duomo di Siena are also made from this stone, as are the interiors of Manila Cathedral, the cold-white marbles of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque and the campus of Harvard Medical...

This is a beautiful antique French Louis Revival parquetry and marquetry ormolu mounted serpentine side table / teapoy kettle stand, circa 1850 in date. The ormolu banded top has a ...

A beautiful antique Victorian satinwood occasional table with an unusually large drawer, circa 1880. This exquisitely crafted piece is made from satinwood with kingwood crossbandi...

This is an antique English workbox table dating from the late 19th century. It is made from Gonçalo Alves with fabulous satinwood inlaid decoration. It has a drawer with compartme...

A magnificent French 19th century Napoleon III period ebony, brass, ormolu and semi precious stone inlaid side table. The table is raised by a tripod base with elegant scrolled ormol...

Antique 19th century French Napoleon III gold bronze and Marble Bouillotte table.

A very nice Napoleon III side table inlaid with marquetry 1860-1870. Standing on curved and blackened legs with connecting platform. The beautiful instrumental inlaid top and flora...

Very nice musical side table dating from the Napoleon III period in good condition. Decorated with scrolls and horse-drawn chariot in the center. The top opens and you can discover s...

19th century oak writing table from France with a beveled edge around the top, following down to paneled sides and hand carved and scalloped aprons. The front of the table contains t...

An exquisite French 19th century Louis XV st. Napoleon III period exotic wood and ormolu side table. The scalloped shaped table is raised by ele...