19th century rosewood secretaire bookcase with carved foliate…
click the photo to enlarge
19th century rosewood secretaire bookcase with carved foliate decoration and bevelled glass doors above with fitted satinwood interior

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.

Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item

When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

This item has been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.
  • Satinwood - Satinwood is a dense pale gold coloured timber that was imported into Britain in the second half of the 18th century, and early 19th centuries from the East Indies and the West Indies. The name derives from the satin-like surface sheen when the timber is polished.

    It was used in the solid, as a veneer and in inlays. As well as furniture, satinwood was used for making musical instruments, barometers, boxes and clocks.

    It will usually be found on only the very best quality objects, presumably because of of its cost at the time.
  • Foliate - Decorated with leaves or leaf-like forms.
  • Rosewood - A dense timber that varies in shade to very light brown to almost black. When rosewood is cut and sanded the colour of the timber will turn black, and after polishing and exposure to daylight, the surface will gradually lighten over time to light brown with black streaks.

    The name comes from the odour emanating from the timber when it is planed, sanded or cut.

    Rosewood was very popular for use in Victorian furniture in the second half of the 19th century, and at that time most of the rosewood was imported from Brazil. However it also grows in India and Indonesia.

    It is used in the sold for chairs and table legs, but for carcase furniture such as side cabinets and bookcases, and for table tops it is always used as a veneer.
  • Bevel / Chamfer - In furniture making, a chamfered corner refers to a technique used to create a smooth, angled edge on the corner of a piece of furniture. This is typically done by cutting away a small portion of the corner at an angle, typically 45 degrees, creating a diagonal edge, rather than a sharp 90-degree angle. This technique can be used on various parts of a piece of furniture such as table legs, drawer fronts, or door frames. Chamfering can add visual interest to a piece and can help to soften the overall look of a piece of furniture. It is often used in conjunction with other techniques, such as rounding edges or using contrasting wood species to create a more elegant, sophisticated look. Chamfering is a simple way to add a touch of elegance to a piece of furniture and it is a common technique used by furniture makers.

This item has been included into following indexes:

Visually similar items

Antique French Renaissance style walnut six door buffet, carved in high relief with a hunting party on horse back

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

A mid - Victorian flame mahogany two door bookcase. 225 cm high, 142 cm wide, 56 cm deep.

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

Cedar sideboard. Carved pierced sides supporting two shelves. Upper drawer above single drawer. Enclosed fitted compartment for storage of table leaves. Height 154 cm. Width 76 cm. Depth 70 cm

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

Northern French or Flemish bibliotheque in carved oak with glazed top & shelves, cupboards & drawers below c.1800

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.