Regency Period Side Table, 19th Century

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This elegantly proportioned antique Regency Period occasional table is circa 1820 in date. This table has been masterfully crafted in … Read more This elegantly proportioned antique Regency Period occasional table is circa 1820 in date. This table has been masterfully crafted in Gonçalo Alves with a circular top on an octagonal tapering column with a triform base. There is no mistaking the unique quality and classical design, which is certain to make it a talking point in your home and a fine embellishment to your reception room. Condition: In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 75 x width 55 x depth 55 Dimensions in inches: Height 29.5 x width 21.7 x depth 21.7 Regency Furniture During the Regency period it was fashionable to copy the classical furniture of the Roman and Greek times. Furniture had stopped evolving in design and had moved back to classical forms. The Pioneer designers who represented this period were: Thomas Hope (1770-1831), George Smith (1804-1828), Henry Holland (1745-1806) George IV had a major influence over the furniture makers of the time. This period saw the introduction of brass to wood from the previous marquetry that had been originally used. The sofa table was also introduced. The main features of the Regency period furniture were their simplicity, with straight, unbroken surfaces and lines. Gonçalo Alves is a hardwood (from the Portuguese name, Gonçalo Alves). It is sometimes referred to as tigerwood — a name that underscore the wood’s often dramatic, contrasting color scheme. While the sapwood is very light in color, the heartwood is a sombre brown, with dark streaks that give it a unique look. The wood’s color deepens with exposure and age and even the plainer-looking wood has a natural luster. Two species are usually listed as sources for gonçalo alves: Astronium fraxinifolium and Astronium graveolens, although other species in the genus may yield similar wood; the amount of striping that is present may vary. In the high tropical forests of Central and South America, well-drained soils furnish nutrients for a variety of dense, durable hardwoods sought for maritime use, heavy construction, and furniture. The Spanish began harvesting in Latin American forests in the early 1500s to provide timber for boatbuilding and repair. By the early 1900s, however, steel ships had replaced wooden ones, and the interest in tropical forests by both Europeans and Americans shifted to appearance-grade woods for furniture. Although history fails to provide us with a shopping list of species from either harvest period, it's probable that the wood we know today as goncalo alves has always been sought. That's because goncalo alves, considered one of the most beautiful of tropical woods, has a tough reputation, too. Strong and durable, it's used for construction in its homeland and secondarily for Fine furniture. Woodworkers elsewhere treasure the wood for decorative items and veneer accents. See less