antique french ormolu mounted marquetry bijouterie display table 19th century

This is a truly beautiful large antique French Gonçalo Alves and ormolu mounted Louis Revival bijouterie display table, circa 1860 in date.

The display table features a hinged and shaped serpentine top with inset bevelled glass. The top is inlaid with with shells and scrolling leaves, flanked by glass sides and with a green velvet lined interior.The brass hinges, the working lock, complete with original key, are of the highest quality. The inset bevelled glass is framed with egg & dart ormolu mounts and it stands on elegant ormolu mounted cabriole legs terminating in ormolu sabots.Bijouterie tables were designed to store and display a collection of small valuable items, they are also called table vitrines, and display tables.Condition:In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation.Dimensions in cm:Height 73 x Width 71 x Depth 46Dimensions in inches:Height 2 foot, 5 inches x Width 2 foot, 4 inches x Depth 1 foot, 6 inches
Our reference: A2301
Ormolu -(from French 'or moulu', signifying ground or pounded gold) is an 18th-century English term for applying finely ground, high-caratgoldin amercuryamalgamto an object ofbronze.The mercury is driven off in akilnleaving behind a gold-coloured veneerknown as'gilt bronze'.The manufacture of true ormolu employs a process known as mercury-gilding orfire-gilding, in which a solution ofnitrate of mercuryis applied to a piece ofcopper,brass, or bronze, followed by the application of anamalgamof 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.After around 1830 because legislation had outlawed the use of mercury other techniques were used instead.Electroplatingis the most common modern technique. Ormolu techniques are essentially the same as those used onsilver, to producesilver-gilt..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.

Antiques.co.uk Ref: 7FMEAT3GY

Width (cm):

71

Height (cm):

73

Depth (cm):

46

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