Regency Mahogany Étagère Whatnot, 1820

Details

Description

A superb quality early 19th-century Regency period mahogany small whatnot, or étagère, of rare wide proportions, the three highly figured … Read more A superb quality early 19th-century Regency period mahogany small whatnot, or étagère, of rare wide proportions, the three highly figured tiers united by elegant turned upright supports, having one drawer to the frieze with replacement brass knobs, raised on turned legs and original brass cup castors.

Dating from the early part of the 19th century, this extremely attractive mahogany whatnot is a particularly good example of its type, with the unusually wide proportions making it considerably more interesting and useful than the taller, narrower examples which one normally encounters.

Constructed from superb quality mahogany throughout, all three rectangular tiers display particularly attractive natural figuring and retain a good colour and surface. Each tier is finished with decorative turned moulding around the edges, whilst the elegant turned upright supports provide plenty of interest without making the piece appear overly heavy.

The lowest tier incorporates a useful drawer to the frieze and is raised on short turned legs terminating in lovely original brass cup castors. The quality of these castors is particularly pleasing and entirely in keeping with the high standard of construction found throughout the piece.

Whatnots became particularly fashionable during the Regency period, providing a convenient series of open shelves on which books, ornaments and other decorative objects could be displayed. Whilst surviving examples are not especially uncommon, they tend to be relatively tall and narrow, making the unusually broad, almost low proportions of this example particularly appealing.

Indeed, it is these proportions which make the piece especially useful in a modern home. It provides a considerable amount of display space across the three tiers without having the height of a conventional étagère and could work particularly well alongside a wall, underneath a window, or even positioned behind a settee in a larger room.

This whatnot has been attended to in the vendor's workshops by traditional antique furniture restorers, where it has received a natural wax polish before being offered for sale.

Circa 1820.

Height: 30.5 in.
Width: 24 in.
Depth: 11 in. See less