Victorian Mahogany Demilune Tea Table, 19th Century

This is a beautiful antique Victorian mahogany demi lune side table, 19th century in date. The table is made of solid mahogany with a moulded top above a plain frieze and is raised on a central cabriole leg and three square tapering legs. The central leg is adorned with a superb carved shell and terminates with a ball and claw foot. The rear leg is fitted with it's original brass castor and this leg swings out to stabilise the table when it is open. The quality and attention to detail throughout is second to none, it is very versatile and can be used as a card, a tea or a console table. The item is not CITES pursuant. Condition: In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned and polished in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 74 x width 84 x depth 42 - When closed Height 70 x width 84 x depth 84 - When top is open Dimensions in inches: Height 29.1 x width 33.1 x depth 16.5 - When closed Height 27.6 x width 33.1 x depth 33.1 - When top is open Mahogany is probably one of the largest ‘families’ of hardwood, having many different varieties within its own species. Mahogany has been used for centuries in ship building, house building, furniture making etc and is the core structure of just about every 19th century vanity box, dressing case or jewellery box. It became more of a Victorian trend to dress mahogany with these decorative veneers, such as kingwood, burr walnut and coromandel, so that the actual mahogany was almost hidden from view. Mahogany itself is a rich reddish brown wood that can range from being plain in appearance to something that is so vibrant, figured and almost three dimensional in effect. Although mahogany was most often used in its solid form, it also provided some beautifully figured varieties of veneer like ‘Flame’ mahogany and ‘Fiddleback’ mahogany (named after its preferred use in the manufacture of fine musical instruments). Cuban mahogany was so sought after, that by the late 1850's, this particular variety became all but extinct.