FURNITURE

A beautiful British japanned and gilt Chinoiserie tilt top table c1825. The term "japanning" was used for lacquer ware as the first pieces seen in Europe were from Japan and the term became generic for anything with this decoration whether it was Chinese, Japanese or European. The top is again in wonderful condition and shows a farmer beneath a canopy of tres and with two pheasants in the forgeound. The turned column is also beautifully painted with sprays of flowers.

A French Louis XVIth style gilt wood and marble centre table c1890. An elegant piece with the most beautiful original soft pink marble top and original gilding.

A fine French japanned and Chinoiserie tilt top wine table c1830. Britain, France and Holland were the centers of fashion for all things Chinese and it is these countries that most "chinoiserie" items were manufactured. The painting of the top is in very good condition and uses beautiful colours in a scene that is very French in its Chineseness! An elegant base also decorated with flowers. Such highly decorated tables with a tilt top were often dislpayed as you see you it here, tilted up to show off the decoration. This also explains why some examples have tops in perfect condition - used for display only - and others have much wear - which were actually used as an occasional table.

A wonderfully stylish English mahogany George IV period bergere c1825. Finely turned legs, carved arms and a sweeping back rail of great elegance, a very practical and comfortable chair.

A Dutch red japanned and gilt Chinoiserie commode c1720. Of beautiful colour with wonderful Dutch versions of Chinese figures in gilt. The base of the commode is made of pine and the brassware is all original. The Dutch really ignited the passion for all things Chinese with their love of oriental porcelain which reached, and still reaches, huge prices. The fashion for Chinese porcelain travelled across the channel with the accession of William of Orange & Mary to throne of Britain in 1689. Local Dutch, and then British and French, manufacturers competed to produce good quality local versions of the exotic Chinese originals which were extremely expensive, undercutting them and often producing very fine examples, which this commode is a good example of.

A fine and elegant signed French Louis XVIth period mahogany semanier c1780. Stamped with the mark of Fidelys Schey who worked in Paris from 1777-1788 and fell victim to the revolution like so many other artisans of the time. This is a sensationally simple piece in good original condition with marble and brasses intact. The seven drawers represented one for each day of the week so a daily supply of clean linen was guaranteed!

A superb British red japanned and gilt chinoiserie cabinet c1760. Of very fine quality the design to the front is beautifully balanced on the piece with figures in procession to a temple. The brass lock plates and hinges are very finely chased and the working lock is a fine a unusual 18th century one. The inside has gold jappaned drawers to the base with shelves above. A highly decorative object it now sits upon a custom made red jappaned stand.

A French marble topped Louis XVIth style satinwood and ormolu mounted commode c1880. Finely matched satinwood veneers to the door surrounded by finely cast mounts with a frieze of bronze cherubs to the top. Fine original marble top with single shelf to the interior. Decorating it is a rare Regency wine cooler.

A Napolean III French japanned, gilt and painted étagère c1870. This very decorative object is of superb quality and painted with dragons and warriors on horse back with a fine gilt bronze gallery to the top. France lead the way in the fashion for collecting small, rare and valuable objects and also came up with the first pieces of furniture to display them upon. This piece would have been decorated with fine oriental porcelain and jades in a fashionable French salon.

A rare and very fine quality pair of "Brighton Pavilion" style japanned, gilt and painted chinoiserie chairs c1860. The Royal Pavilion in Brighton is perhaps the greatest Chinoiserie construction in Europe and is an exotic melange of Eastern styles with China being the dominant theme. Built for the Prince Regent, later George IVth, it continues to inspire and amuse generations after it was built. The mid Victorian period saw the beginning of what we would recognise as interior decoration trends as the newly wealthy middle classes drove the desire for new things. Chinoiserie had another moment in the sun at this point and these chairs are a magnificent example from the period. The panels in the back are painted with a scholar beneath an umberella on one and ladies in a garden on the other. They are upholstered in an early 20th century chinoiserie fabric.