Tag Archives: mahogany

Three Species of Mahogany

Posted on 29th August 2018 by

There are three species of mahogany: — Common mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni), Swietenia febrifuga, and Swietenia chloroxylon: the first being a native of the West India Islands and the central parts of America, and the second and third natives of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Furniture Timbers | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The Butler did it.

Posted on 1st April 2018 by

Wood has been used since time immemorial for making such things as rudimentary sticks for whacking animate and inanimate things with, to shelters and furniture etc. But wood really came into its own in the mid-nineteenth-century for creating the most … Continue reading →

Posted in Distractions | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

A George II Walnut Serpentine Chest – Part One

Posted on 4th January 2017 by

Towards the close of the seventeenth-century, rather heavy, solid wainscot (oak) furniture gave way to refined European walnut chairs, tables, mirrors and walnut-veneered wainscot and deal (pine) casework etc. Joined oak furniture was attractive enough, but somewhat workman-like and couldn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Case Furniture | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Picture This C

Posted on 6th December 2016 by

“All craftsmen make blunders, but what separates the truly great ones is the ability to redress their mistakes.” Regular reader, Burbidge, emailed me about an aspect of the mahogany linen press in figure 1. It conforms closely to the drawing … Continue reading →

Posted in Antiques, Picture This | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

Chairs and Shelves at Christie’s

Posted on 28th October 2016 by

Christie’s are conducting The English Collector: English Furniture, Clocks and Portrait Miniatures at their King Street, London rooms on the 17th of November 2016. Amongst the furniture on offer is lot 152, a set of six George II fruitwood Windsor … Continue reading →

Posted in Auction Alerts | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Art and Industry in Early America: Rhode Island Furniture, 1650–1830

Posted on 24th July 2016 by

For my North American reader: Art and Industry in Early America: Rhode Island Furniture, 1650–1830 – an exhibition, August 19, 2016–January 8, 2017. Mahogany ‘desk and bookcase’ by Christopher Townsend, circa 1745–50. (Yale University) This groundbreaking exhibition presents a comprehensive survey … Continue reading →

Posted in Antiques, Exhibitions | Tagged , , | 22 Comments

Picture This XCIII

Posted on 12th July 2016 by

BADA (The British Antique Dealers’ Association) have partnered with art market specialists, The Curator’s Eye to launch the inaugural on-line BADA Auction on Thursday the 14th of July 2016. Some of BADA’s finest dealers have put up 413 lots that … Continue reading →

Posted in Antiques, Auction Alerts | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Picture This LXXXI Redux

Posted on 23rd June 2016 by

The mahogany chest of drawers, lot 313, featured in Picture This LXXXI was passed in at Bonham’s The Scottish Sale in Edinburgh on the 13th of April 2016. However, it reappeared in their Homes & Interiors sale on the 22nd … Continue reading →

Posted in Auction Results, Picture This | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Picture This LXXXIV

Posted on 5th May 2016 by

When I came across this mahogany chest of drawers, one of the first things I noticed was the feet (fig. 1) – if you click on the image and enlarge it, you can see the bracket feet have been re-tipped. … Continue reading →

Posted in Antiques, Picture This | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Picture This LXXXIII

Posted on 28th April 2016 by

In Bonhams’ Home & Interiors sale in Knightsbridge on the 24th of May 2016, lot 116 is catalogued as a “George III mahogany mule chest” (fig. 1) which may well be correct. Fig. 1. “George III mahogany mule chest”, (Bonhams) … Continue reading →

Posted in Antiques, Auction Alerts | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments