19th Century Dutch Walnut Miniature Book Press

Details

Description

Dating from the late 19th century, this extremely charming little Dutch press is a particularly unusual example of miniature furniture, … Read more Dating from the late 19th century, this extremely charming little Dutch press is a particularly unusual example of miniature furniture, having been constructed as a working model rather than simply as a decorative object.

A particularly appealing feature is the wonderfully oversized turned wooden screw, which remains fully operational and allows the upper pressing board to be raised and lowered in exactly the same manner as a full-size press\. The well figured wooden pressing boards below are equally attractive and, combined with the substantial screw mechanism, give the piece a great deal of character despite its diminutive proportions.

The bombe shaped lower section is particularly pleasing and contains two useful drawers, both retaining their original turned brass knob handles. Elegant shaped feet complete the design and give the whole piece the appearance of a genuine piece of Dutch furniture which has simply been reduced dramatically in scale.

Miniature pieces of this nature were often produced as demonstrations of an apprentice cabinetmaker’s skill, or alternatively as a travelling salesman’s model which could be used to take orders from, or sometimes even simply as a decorative object. Whatever the precise original purpose of this example, there is no question that considerable skill would have been required to construct the working mechanism and cabinetry successfully on such a small scale.

Miniature furniture has always been particularly collectible and working examples such as this are especially appealing. It is a really quirky and unusual little piece which would sit equally happily amongst a collection of miniature furniture, treen or decorative objects, whilst being more than capable of standing alone as a fascinating talking point.

As with all items which we offer for sale, this miniature press has been attended to in our workshops by our highly skilled and traditional antique furniture restorers, where it has received a natural wax polish before being offered for sale. It is therefore ready to place straight into the home.

Circa 1880.

Height 19.5in.
Width 9in.
Depth 5.5in. See less