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Antique French Bureau Plat Writing Table Desk c.1860

Antique Bureau Plat Parquetry Writing Table | French Writing Table c.1860 | Ref. no. 07105 | Regent Antiques
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  • Antique Bureau Plat Parquetry Writing Table | French Writing Table c.1860 | Ref. no. 07105 | Regent Antiques
  • Antique Bureau Plat Parquetry Writing Table | French Writing Table c.1860 | Ref. no. 07105 | Regent Antiques
  • Antique Bureau Plat Parquetry Writing Table | French Writing Table c.1860 | Ref. no. 07105 | Regent Antiques
  • Antique Bureau Plat Parquetry Writing Table | French Writing Table c.1860 | Ref. no. 07105 | Regent Antiques
  • Antique Bureau Plat Parquetry Writing Table | French Writing Table c.1860 | Ref. no. 07105 | Regent Antiques
  • Antique Bureau Plat Parquetry Writing Table | French Writing Table c.1860 | Ref. no. 07105 | Regent Antiques
  • Antique Bureau Plat Parquetry Writing Table | French Writing Table c.1860 | Ref. no. 07105 | Regent Antiques
  • Antique Bureau Plat Parquetry Writing Table | French Writing Table c.1860 | Ref. no. 07105 | Regent Antiques
  • Antique Bureau Plat Parquetry Writing Table | French Writing Table c.1860 | Ref. no. 07105 | Regent Antiques
  • Antique Bureau Plat Parquetry Writing Table | French Writing Table c.1860 | Ref. no. 07105 | Regent Antiques
  • Antique Bureau Plat Parquetry Writing Table | French Writing Table c.1860 | Ref. no. 07105 | Regent Antiques
  • Antique Bureau Plat Parquetry Writing Table | French Writing Table c.1860 | Ref. no. 07105 | Regent Antiques
  • Antique Bureau Plat Parquetry Writing Table | French Writing Table c.1860 | Ref. no. 07105 | Regent Antiques
  • Antique Bureau Plat Parquetry Writing Table | French Writing Table c.1860 | Ref. no. 07105 | Regent Antiques
  • Antique Bureau Plat Parquetry Writing Table | French Writing Table c.1860 | Ref. no. 07105 | Regent Antiques
  • Antique Bureau Plat Parquetry Writing Table | French Writing Table c.1860 | Ref. no. 07105 | Regent Antiques
  • Antique Bureau Plat Parquetry Writing Table | French Writing Table c.1860 | Ref. no. 07105 | Regent Antiques
  • Antique Bureau Plat Parquetry Writing Table | French Writing Table c.1860 | Ref. no. 07105 | Regent Antiques
  • Antique Bureau Plat Parquetry Writing Table | French Writing Table c.1860 | Ref. no. 07105 | Regent Antiques
  • Antique Bureau Plat Parquetry Writing Table | French Writing Table c.1860 | Ref. no. 07105 | Regent Antiques
  • Antique Bureau Plat Parquetry Writing Table | French Writing Table c.1860 | Ref. no. 07105 | Regent Antiques
  • Antique Bureau Plat Parquetry Writing Table | French Writing Table c.1860 | Ref. no. 07105 | Regent Antiques
Ref: 07105
Price: £4,250.00
This is an attractive antique French ormolu mounted Gonçalo Alves and kingwood bureau plat, dating from Circa 1860. As you can...
This is an attractive antique French ormolu mounted Gonçalo Alves and kingwood bureau plat, dating from Circa 1860.

As you can see from the photographs, this delightful French writing table features a very attractive kingwood top centred with an inset gold tooled green leather writing surface. The top is banded in goncalo alves and is mounted with stylish ormolu borders.

For storage of stationery and other items there are two very useful and capacious drawers, located in the frieze, together with a centralised lock that secures both of the drawers at once, the key is supplied.

The desk is raised on four elegant cabriole legs, each of which has decorative ormolu mounts and beading. The legs terminate with elegant ormolu sabots.

This is one of those pieces that can be placed anywhere and looks good in any room you care to put it into.

Condition:

In really excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned, polished waxed and releathered in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.





Dimensions in cm:

Height 77.5 cm x Width 141 cm x Depth 100 cm

Dimensions in inches:

Height 2 foot, 6 inches x Width 4 foot, 7 inches x Depth 3 foot, 3 inches

Our reference: 07105

Please feel free to email or call us (+44 20 8809 9605) to arrange a viewing in our North London warehouse.

Gonçalo Alves is a hardwood (from the Portuguese name, Gonçalo Alves). It is sometimes referred to as tigerwood — a name that underscore the wood’s often dramatic, contrasting color scheme. 

While the sapwood is very light in color, the heartwood is a sombre brown, with dark streaks that give it a unique look. The wood’s color deepens with exposure and age and even the plainer-looking wood has a natural luster.

Two species are usually listed as sources for gonçalo alves: Astronium fraxinifolium and Astronium graveolens, although other species in the genus may yield similar wood; the amount of striping that is present may vary. 

In the high tropical forests of Central and South America, well-drained soils furnish nutrients for a variety of dense, durable hardwoods sought for maritime use, heavyconstruction, and furniture. The Spanish began harvesting in Latin American forests in the early 1500s to provide timber for boatbuilding and repair. By the early 1900s, however, steel ships had replaced wooden ones, and the interest in tropical forests by both Europeans and Americans shifted to appearance-grade woods for furniture.

Although history fails to provide us with a shopping list of species from either harvest period, it's probable that the wood we know today as goncalo alves has always been sought. That's because goncalo alves, considered one of the most beautiful of tropical woods, has a tough reputation, too. Strong and durable, it's used for construction in its homeland and secondarily for fine furniture. Woodworkers elsewhere treasure the wood for decorative items and veneer accents.

 

Kingwood

is a classic furniture wood, almost exclusively used for inlays on very fine furniture. Occasionally it is used in the solid for small items and turned work, including parts of billiard cues, e.g., those made by John Parris. It is brownish-purple with many fine darker stripes and occasional irregular swirls. Occasionally it contains pale streaks of a similar colour to sapwood.

The wood is very dense and hard and can be brought to a spectacular finish. it turns well but due to its density and hardness can be difficult to work with hand tools. It also has a tendency to blunt the tools due to its abrasive properties.
 

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 copperbrass, 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.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 77.5 cm x Width 141 cm x Depth 100 cm

Dimensions in inches:

Height 2 foot, 6 inches x Width 4 foot, 7 inches x Depth 3 foot, 3 inches

Shipping:

We ship worldwide and deliver to Mainland UK addresses free of charge.

A shipping cost to all other destinations must be requested prior to purchase.

UK shipping times are typically 3-5 business days.

Buyers are fully responsible for any customs duties or local taxes that may be incurred on items sent outside of the United Kingdom, and we are not responsible for any delays in shipping or in the customs procedures of any jurisdiction, which are completely beyond our control.

To request a shipping quote for the items in your cart, please click HERE.

Delivery and return policy:

We require that someone be home on the agreed delivery day if applicable, otherwise a redelivery fee will apply.

In accordance with Distance Selling Regulations, we offer a 14-day money back guarantee if you are not satisfied with the item.

The item must be returned in its original packaging and condition.

Unless the item is not as described in a material way, the buyer is responsible for return shipping expenses.

Buyers are fully responsible for any customs duties or local taxes that may be incurred on items sent outside of the United Kingdom, and we are not responsible for any delays in shipping or in the customs procedures of any jurisdiction, which are completely beyond our control.

Please be advised that claims for damage with certain carriers can sometimes take several months to resolve, and we would be grateful for your patience and cooperation throughout the process.

Returns will be processed and refunds issued within 2-3 business days of receipt.

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