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A Rare French retro fibreglass sealed fabric centre table, in Autumn tones with birds and foliage.  

A Rare French retro fibreglass sealed fabric centre table, in Autumn tones with birds and foliage.  

Below the circular top reveals the falling fabric continuing on to form the base.
Provenance: The table was selected by notable decorator Colin Bowman when both Madame Verna and he travelled to America for the furnishing of Verbu Lodge in early 1982.
(Video to come, Monday)
I restored the base this week as it had a little marking and the lower half had faded near flat.
So I cleaned back, coloured out the damages, then re varnished the entire base to match better with the top.
Such a dramatic difference, you’ll see better in the photos.
This table is a one off.
H.73cm
Dia.124cm
Included in my 50% reduced closing SALE.
$9,500 reduced to $4,750
A rare 19th century English mahogany and walnut demilune folding tea table.

A rare 19th century English mahogany and walnut demilune folding tea table.

In style of 18th century George III period.
Of unusually small proportions.

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The double folding demilune tops open to reveal a small space to store and lock away their tea. Tea was so valuable in parts of the 18th century, they locked away from the staff.
The top folding into a well faded circular serving top, left open for long periods to have such fade. Usually the top is far lighter than inside. The bowed front apron, retaining the original lock, with ogee-shaped mouldings, above the narrow turned tapered legs, terminating in a fine pad-foot.

This piece had been over restored long ago, so I slowly removed majority of the polish, then built a softer wax finish.

H.72cm W.36cm D.22cm
Diameter opened 36x35cm, due to shrinkage.

Note, the front leg is walnut, quite unusual, certainly defining the table and something you probably won’t see again.

C.1850

$3,200 Reduced by 50% $1,600

Perfect as an entrance table for a small apartment or for many spots in any home.

When opened you’ll notice the bowl of relaxing sleep tea (I have most evenings before bed, so relaxing) and a bottle of “alchemy” essential oil I burnt in my shop daily, so many customers loved the scent, so I on sold both and many other teas I drink, for my sister Maxine, she owns iBliss Australia, I often scent my apartment, I love the smell✨

The majority of pieces used to dress the top are for sale, text or call me for information.

A rare George III solid yew-wood pembroke table. 

A rare George III solid yew-wood pembroke table. 

THIS ITEM HAS BEEN SOLD
When interstate recently, one of my favourite customers from over many years, called me to say hello and ask where I’d moved to?
I explained I’d moved to my warehouse for about the next year in North Fitzroy.
About 1k from her home in Fitzroy, she was happy to hear this.
Next she said, I love every piece I’ve purchased from you over the years, they bring me great joy. My only regret is, I never bought that yew-wood pembroke table from you, for my library room.
My reply was, well Elizabeth, I took the table home to enjoy for a few years. However, I recently changed a few pieces around and had to bring back into stock. So it’s now just around the corner from you.
On my return, she came to my warehouse and asked me to deliver to try. Knowing the space well, I knew it wouldn’t return. Even better, this piece  like all of my stock was reduced by 50%.
I imported this table from Chester, UK some years ago and have nearly sold many times.
That’s the life of an antique dealer, some pieces, no matter how rare they are may sell before you even have the chance to post it, or may be in your company for over a decade.
I took a few photos in situ to share.
I also photographed all of the other pieces I sold her over the years, every one a one off piece. “The incredible beauty of English country furniture”
I’ll create a post soon of all of them, of course I have permission to do so…
Decorative 18th Century French Oak Buffet Deux Corps, of Small Proportions

Decorative 18th Century French Oak Buffet Deux Corps, of Small Proportions

This is French with strong English Hepplewhite influences.

Over the years I’ve sold many, usually slight or profusely carved.

This example has elegant modern like lines, beautifully worn and patinated. All original brass-work.

The standout piece in a modern apartment living room, entrance or hallway. Stunning lines indeed.

Beside 18th century English country Hepplewhite dining chairs. Notice the influence in style.

The 1940s Paris newspapers stuck to the backboards, adds yet another interesting touch to this rare 18th Century French Oak Buffet Deux Corps, of Small Proportions

This is French with strong English Hepplewhite influences.
Such an interesting piece.

As I said, usually carved, also usually much larger proportions.

H.230cm W.120cm D.50cm

Included on my Retirement SALE,
$16,500 reduced to $8,250

 

Late Tudor / early Renaissance carved oak panels (circa 1520–1560), presented within a later Arts & Crafts period outer frame (late 19th / early 20th century).

Late Tudor / early Renaissance carved oak panels (circa 1520–1560), presented within a later Arts & Crafts period outer frame (late 19th / early 20th century).

This is a classic composite, or “married,” construction of the kind long recognised in the trade: a later carcass carefully built to showcase much earlier salvaged fragments. The front facade consists of highly distinctive Tudor-period carved oak panels that capture the transitional phase between Late Gothic and Early Renaissance design in England.
The architectural arrangement of the facade is divided into vertical framed panels that derive directly from traditional medieval joinery. Arcaded structures contain primitive figures, characteristic of late medieval and Henry VIII-period carving, flanking a central panel of stylised, interwoven geometric motif. The three principal panels display a deeply incised geometric design, with trees or vines appearing on the side panels. Figures stand beneath carved archways in a manner strongly influenced by continental Renaissance designs that reached England and Flanders in the early sixteenth century, a style often described as “Romayne” or architectural caryatid carving.
These panels may originally have formed part of a fifteenth- or early sixteenth-century marriage chest (cassone), or been taken from Tudor oak wainscoting or dismantled bed heads in manor houses. Their surface shows severe age-related degradation, chipping and deep vertical checking on the lower sections, creating a heavily eroded, dry texture that contrasts markedly with the smoother structural frame surrounding them. Historic borer trails are present, as is typical of early oak. These are long extinct, with stable oxidisation and no evidence of active infestation.
The outer frame (stiles, rails and top lid) is a reconstruction of the Arts & Crafts period, when craftsmen held a particular reverence for medieval and Renaissance joinery and routinely salvaged original fragments from decaying estates to create new, functional pieces.
Two conservation options are under consideration: careful removal of the Tudor panels for independent conservation, sealing, wax finishing and reverse-framing on an antique velvet-covered timber panel (in the manner of the sixteenth-century Flemish oak panel of a rising angel previously offered), or retention of the complete composite structure with gentle restoration of the front panels and wax finishing of the surrounding coffer. Both approaches respect the historical integrity of these early carvings.
A rare and evocative survival of the transitional Tudor period, offered with complete transparency as a composite construction of genuine early panels within a later frame.

Panel
42 x 95cm

Coffer
H.66
W.120cm D.36cm

Call or text me for further details or to arrange a viewing.

Pair of Italian retro Magis Lyra barstools, designed by Sigurdur Thorsteinsson

Pair of Italian retro Magis Lyra barstools, designed by Sigurdur Thorsteinsson

Designed for Design Group Italia in 1990 and manufactured by the Italian brand Magis.

This classic postmodern design features an organic, curved bentwood plywood seat shell combined with a futuristic, tapered three-legged tubular chrome steel base.

Because of their enduring popularity, they were also famously distributed globally by Herman Miller.

The stools are in great condition.

Selling for a friend $750 pair

Happy to deliver inner city No charge…
Otherwise, pick up St Kilda West or North Fitzroy.

Set of four early 18th century English Oak chairs

Set of four early 18th century English Oak chairs

Some recent re purchases I sold over 20 years ago.
Even though fully retiring soon, it’s impossible to not buy these magnificent pieces back.

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The ogee-shaped top rail above three plain rectangular scratch-moulded upright plats, supported by a lower rail, above two plank seats (some attractively knotted) resting on square block turned legs, terminating on a small pad-foot, with a high turned front stretcher, with double stretcher sides.

H.135cm W.46cm D.46cm

C.1700

Perfect for a low farmhouse table, with narrow skirts, such as this one displayed. Or make some thick decoratively upholstered fitted cushions and use with a standard 76cm hightail farmhouse table, or use as two decorative pairs of side chairs.

All in need of a good re-wax finish.

First half 19th century French oak farmhouse table or desk of diminutive proportions.

First half 19th century French oak farmhouse table or desk of diminutive proportions.

The well patinated three plank top, hand made nailed to the plain narrow skirts. Resting on square tapered legs, one having an unusual lost knot to the top, a nice conversation piece between oak lovers.

The narrow skirt matched with the lower set of four early English oak dining chairs, is a great match, as makes this comfortable seating.

Good overall colour and patination. see reel here

France 1800 – 1850

69 x 138 x 64

See below the top, the beautifully blended natural oxidisation of the planks and inner skirts, the thickness of the skirts and the huge knot missing from the grain flow of one.
These unique characteristics are generally never seen, not even by most dealers, as it’s a restorer that gets to examine every nook and cranny, having the immense pleasure of discovery!

I say once again, you’ll never find this in perfect, polished town pieces, from any period.
This is why I adore English and European country furniture.

Perfect for creating a stylish kitchen/dining in a smallish space.

This post also featuring a set of four early 18th century English oak dining chairs. I’ll create another post for them.

First half 19th century French fruitwood farmhouse table/desk.

First half 19th century French fruitwood farmhouse table/desk.

Enjoyed my linguini bolognaise from @mariaspasta while photographing today.

Also reading up on 18th century Georgian wine tables, seeing a few similarities to many I’ve sold over the decades.

The well patinated faded three plank top, above a plain skirt, with chestnut lined cutlery drawer to one end, with the original shield shaped escutcheon, originally had a lock, unusual for a farmhouse table, so may have been made as a desk.

Resting on square tapered legs.

76 x 145 x 67

see reel here

Purchased in Normandy over a decade ago, finally restored. I tend to live in “Country Time”

Shahsavan Kilim, Undyed wool, Hand woven in Iran.

Shahsavan Kilim, Undyed wool, Hand woven in Iran.

508-B

Selling this attractive kilim $1,750

see reel here

Shahsavan Kilim, Undyed wool, Hand woven in Iran

Neutral earthy tones of brown, cream, and taupe with delicate fringed ends.

288 x 184cm

Remarkable the difference a stylish rug can make to a room. The warm tones have beautifully disguised the over busy floor tiles. Changing the entire feel of the display space.

Thank you Amir and Omid @behruzstudio

A delightful 19th century European figured walnut entrance, hall, side, console table, of narrow proportions.

A delightful 19th century European figured walnut entrance, hall, side, console table, of narrow proportions.

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Serpentine shaped moulded marble top, above a matching shaped carved and moulded front skirt, opening to reveal an unexpected narrow drawer.


The stylish lines flowing into acanthus leaf carved knees and over expressed cabriole legs, terminating on a scrolled foot.
The beautifully veneered rear plain rectangular legs, on well shaped moulded feet.

Fantastic overall well faded original polished and waxed patina.
Could I have raved anymore? What a piece!

1850 – 1880

H.79cm W.110cm D.40cm

An Outstanding Rare Late 17th Century Oak and Elm Primitive Windsor Armchair - Wales 1697

An Outstanding Rare Late 17th Century Oak and Elm Primitive Windsor Armchair – Wales 1697

An outstanding and rare late 17th Century Oak and Elm primitive Windsor armchair – Wales. The slanted upright plank back slotted through the single plank bowed arm on four bobbin turned supports joined to the elm saddle seat raised by four tapered out swept legs. Dated 1697 with the initials later gouged out and showing signs of very old repairs including shaped iron braces applied by hand made nails.

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Note: This chair is worthy of a museum and will probably never leave my personal collection. I have had the chair photographed in complete detail to display on my website and to be included in a future publication.

Sat in our dining room corner, appearing like a sculpture for many years, now sits in my apartment bedroom ✨

Photographed by Russell Winnell Photography.

AA0803

H.109cm W.62cm D.63cm

The joys of being an “aesthete”

The joys of being an “aesthete”

Paying attention to the overall beauty of the rare pieces I’ve sold is one of my more enjoyable pastimes. Finding that unseen knot to the grain of one of the solid oak rear planks, or to the inside of a square tapered leg of a farmhouse table (upcoming post),
Or the small section of sap-wood on the oak dresser base, riddled with long gone borer holes, always to me a great find. These little unseen touches to a piece really excite me.
I do find it a little sad that probably nobody else has ever noticed and missed out on immense pleasure I get from discovering these unique touches.

Yet another wonderful thing of dealing in country furniture, that unlike “town” pieces, a lot more perfect and certainly no place for a huge knot or a fallen knot making the timber imperfect and therefore unusable, so would be cut up to be used as corner blocks. With country or provincial pieces, these imperfections were overlooked, usually as good timber’s were scarce and they used whatever they had.
I’m sort of writing ahead for the upcoming story, but this also relates to this piece.

The 1940s Paris newspapers stuck to the backboards, adds yet another interesting touch to this rare 18th Century French Oak Buffet Deux Corps, of Small Proportions

This is French with strong English Hepplewhite influences. ref to my website, Furniture, French, Buffets.
Such an interesting piece.

Included on my Retirement SALE,
$16,500 reduced to $8,250

19th century English oak lowboy, in 18th century style.

19th century English oak lowboy, in 18th century style.

Recently restored and selling,

The two plank moulded top, above brass handled, two short and one long drawer, with a slight ogee-shaped skirt, resting on stylish cabriole legs, terminating on a round pad-foot.

H.70cm W.81cm D.50cm

C.1880

18th century English cream wear Thomas Whieldon-type tortoiseshell.

1750-1770

Late 18th Century English Country Oak Wine Table.

Late 18th Century English Country Oak Wine Table.

Purchased this table in Chester,
UK over 15 years ago, finally re-glued and wax finished.

UK1899

The plain well faded medullary ray grained four plank tilt top above a bold turned column, resting on elegant out swept legs.
Circa 1790

H. 69cm Dia. 79cm

$4,400 reduced to $2,200

Retirement SALE for one final year, all stock reduced from 50 – 60%
I can’t take it with me!

19th century English stoneware jugs and 19th century green majolica plate.
Contemporary brass copy of a classic horse head sculpture on cylindrical stand.