An Exceptionally fine Quality Early Victorian English Well Figured Polished Coromandel Gentleman’s Library Adjustable Table Book Holder, firmly attributed to renowned Furniture Makers and Retailer Chamberlain King & Jones Birmingham.
Each adjustable hinged flap with carved handle and lavish cast polished brass mounts decorated in Gothic taste, supported on a solid rectangular base. Third quarter of the Nineteenth Century.
Condition: Good complete and firm condition for such an early piece, no imperfections or restoration, all brass detail is present. Baise underneath which is original is slightly worn
Height: (entire) 7.5” (19cm). Depth: (of base) 6” (15.5cm). Width: (closed) 14.5” (37cm).
Location: Dublin City, Ireland.
Affordable fixed charge Worldwide Store to door shipping.
Coromandel: also known as Makassar Ebony, is a member of the genus Diospyros and one of the plants commonly known as ebony. Coromandel ebony wood is variegated, streaky brown and black, nearly always wide striped. It is considered a highly valuable wood for turnery, fine cabinet work and joinery.
The tree grows up to 20 meters under favourable circumstances, although such trees are rarely seen nowadays. Since Coromandel ebony has been a woodworker's favorite for centuries, most of it has been felled and used in high quality furniture. The natural area of distribution are some Indonesian islands. As this exceptionally beautiful species of the Ebonies has been much appreciated by woodworkers all over the world through the past 2 centuries it has now become a very scarce and expensive timber. The small available amounts on the market have led to very high prices, Makassar ebony nowadays belongs to the highest priced timbers on the world the region of growth is quite restricted.