19th Century English Regency Mahogany Etagere Server ~ Console

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A 19th century English Regency mahogany etagere server with a deep, warm patina and the rich figure of fine mahogany. … Read more A 19th century English Regency mahogany etagere server with a deep, warm patina and the rich figure of fine mahogany. A molded top with softly rounded corners crowns two frieze drawers in flame mahogany, each with a simple keyhole escutcheon. Four reeded legs with crisp ring turnings rise from tapered feet and carry two open shelves with molded edges.
The reeding runs the full length of each leg and catches the light, giving the frame a graceful architectural rhythm. The drawer fronts show the finest of the mahogany, with a flowing grain that reads almost like watered silk. Traditional cabinetmaking joinery gives the frame its sturdy, lasting construction.
English Regency cabinetmakers drew on classical inspiration, favoring beautifully figured mahogany, reeded legs, and elegant, balanced proportions. In English homes, the etagere served desserts, tea, and coffee, with silverware kept close at hand in the drawers, one of which is still fitted with its original dividers.
Today the server is wonderfully versatile wherever a narrow, elegant piece with an abundance of surface is needed. It makes a handsome sofa table, a graceful addition to a library, a buffet in the dining room, or a stylish bar.
The top lifts on brass hinges to reveal a hidden serving surface. English servers of the period were typically fitted with leather for serving, and the present vinyl surface likely replaced the worn original in the early 1900s.
Circa 1825.
Available at Inessa Stewart's Antiques, Dallas Design District, Dallas, Texas. See less