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19th century mother-of-pearl work table black lacquered work table Napoleon III era worker Papier-mâché sewing table Napoleon III lacquered furniture Furniture with painted and decorated burgauté Precious table of Napoleon III Exotic Burgau style furniture 19th-century papier-mâché work table Napoleon III lacquered furniture Florally decorated work table 19th century sewing cabinet Oval wooden sewing table Oval table inlaid with mother-of-pearl Black lacquered furniture with burgundy decoration Polychrome painted floral furniture Lacquered wood table, green silk, mother-of-pearl Antique Napoleon III Sewing Table 19th-century oval cabinet with drawers for sewing
  • 19th century mother-of-pearl work table
  • black lacquered work table
  • Napoleon III era worker
  • Papier-mâché sewing table
  • Napoleon III lacquered furniture
  • Furniture with painted and decorated burgauté
  • Precious table of Napoleon III
  • Exotic Burgau style furniture
  • 19th-century papier-mâché work table
  • Napoleon III lacquered furniture
  • Florally decorated work table
  • 19th century sewing cabinet
  • Oval wooden sewing table
  • Oval table inlaid with mother-of-pearl
  • Black lacquered furniture with burgundy decoration
  • Polychrome painted floral furniture
  • Lacquered wood table, green silk, mother-of-pearl
  • Antique Napoleon III Sewing Table
  • 19th-century oval cabinet with drawers for sewing

19th-century work table, in black lacquered papier-mâché

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A precious 19th-century oval work table, made of black lacquered papier-mâché and decorated with mother-of-pearl inlaid scenes of a castle and flowers, dating from the Napoleon III period. The polychrome decoration includes friezes of grapes, gilt floral scrolls, palmettes, and foliage. The top opens with a drop-front revealing a removable sewing box with eighteen compartments, lined with moiré silk and green velvet. Inside are a collection of small sewing items, including a silver-gilt thimble, six spool holders, and two ivory needle holders. The box conceals a larger, single-compartment container. The lower section features a drawer that opens to reveal seven storage compartments and is secured with a small key lock. The central baluster base with melon-shaped sides rests on four scrolled feet with casters. This small, light, functional and beautifully crafted piece of furniture perfectly embodies this era of industrial revolution where bourgeois splendor and the triumph of luxury are reflected in all areas.

The lacquered papier-mâché, sometimes called "disguised cardboard," from which our Napoleon III workpiece is made, first appeared in England and then in France in the 19th century, but its origins lie in the Far East. This material, made of plant fibers, recycled paper, and straw, was mixed with glue to create a paste, which was then refined over several days. Capable of being molded into surprising shapes, this paste was then baked in linseed oil and sanded to receive a meticulous black lacquer, in the Oriental style. With Napoleon III campaigning in China, Chinese and Japanese motifs became very fashionable. As trade became easier, Eastern styles and techniques quickly spread to Europe. This is how French furniture came to incorporate burgau, a mother-of-pearl shell from the seas of the East, used as inlay by the greatest ornamentalists to enhance the black lacquers then in vogue. If you would like to learn more about the Napoleon III style, we invite you to read the dedicated article on our blog .

Circa: 1860

Dimensions: L: 50cm, D: 32cm, H: 80cm.
Dim: W: 19.7in, D: 12.6in, H: 31.5in.

Condition report : In good overall condition, slight wear consistent with age to the fabric and binding. Bottom drawer functional with its key. Key missing from the top lock. Two spool holders have been restored.

Reference :
3248
Width :
50 (cm)
Height :
80 (cm)
Depth :
32 (cm)
Era:
19th century
Style:
Napoleon III
Materials:
Papier-mâché, mother-of-pearl, vermeil
SIZE Guide

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