Antique 19th Century Amboyna Card Console Tables with Porcelain Plaques, Set of 2

This is a stunning pair of antique French amboyna and ebonised card tables, circa 1860 in date. The tables are made from striking and rare amboyna, and then each is beautifully decorated with forty fabulous Sevres porcelain plaques which feature hand painted floral motifs and are set in elegant ormolu mounts. They stand on elegant turned and fluted twin column supports joined by a stretcher and raised on outswept legs that terminate in the original brass and porcelain castors. The hinged tops opens to reveal the original claret baize lined interior for playing cards. As you swivel the top into position a compartment for storing your cards, pens and paper is revealed. They are superb pieces which are sure to get lots of attention wherever they are placed. Provenance - Bruton Knowles, The Sir Charles Irving Collection, July 1995
Condition: In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned and polished in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 76 x Width 91 x Depth 45 Dimensions in inches: Height 2 foot, 6 inches x Width 3 feet x Depth 1 foot, 6 inches. Amboyna is a type of wood which has its origins in Indonesia (the preferred veneer comes particularly from the Andaman Islands). The grain texture is one of the rarest and most exclusive on earth. The burls are often very small, which is why the sheets of veneer come in small dimensions. The colours range from deep yellowish-orange to dark red. After finishing the surface, the grain texture of amboyna wood has a depth and richness unmatched in other textured woods.