A Regency Brass Inlaid Rosewood Sofa Table

The rectangular padded seat covered in brown leather, opening to reveal a set of library steps, over a solid inlaid seat-rail and ring-turned tapering legs ending in castors. 18in. high, 34 1/2in. wide and 16 1/2in. deep. Opened, 36in. high and 49in. wide. Rooms organized during the Regency period as libraries often had floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. The upper shelves were difficult to reach, so movable library stairs were invaluable. Further, libraries were one of the most important rooms in a stately house, symbol of its owner's wealth, culture and status. As a consequence, designers, architects and cabinet or chair makers devoted much attention to its architecture and decoration. Hence, the emrgence of innovative ideas such as our bench. Enter the Regency era metamorphic library chair/bench (chairs are more common than benches)! The tables, chairs and stools containing library steps were patented in Great Britain by Robert Campbell in 1774 but this innovative chair-based design did not become immediately popular. Once the Regency was established, a neo-classical interpretation of Campbell’s Metamorphic Library Chair concept started to become popular in London. Any early attributions rely heavily on two contemporary sketches...

The bronze-mounted rectangular top with rounded incurved corners‚ above a single frieze drawer‚ raised on a trestle base ending in downswept legs on casters joined by a turned stretcher. This very elegant table beautifully illustrates the most refined Regency furniture where rosewood is contrasted with gilt bronze. This type of furniture is traditionally associated with the celebrated cabinet maker John McLean (1770-1825) who is believed to have furnished pieces to the Prince Regent...

In the style of Thomas Hope, the rectangular three-quarter galleried top over a single frieze drawer raised on caryatid front supports, above a plinth base and carved paw feet, the w...

The Japanese lacquered box hinged to open to an adjustable fabric-inset writing surface, inset in a Stand with twin supports in the Chinese taste. This exceptional desk is very much ...

Very fine English Regency rosewood sofa table circa 1820 with satinwood crossbanding and brass inlay, the perfectly sunfaded top with shaped drop flaps, all with double bands of sati...

A superb quality early 19th Century rosewood and brass inlaid sofa table, having a wonderfully figured top, crossbanded and having decorative b...

For sale is a superb quality Regency brass inlaid sofa table, the rich figured rosewood top, profusely inlaid with brass, over a single drawer to the front beside a faux drawer, on t...

A Regency brass-inlaid rosewood sofa table attributed to Gillows, the rectangular D-end top with two hinged flaps all inlaid with brass beading to the vertical edges, above two friez...