About Burr Walnut

Burr walnut is a wonderfully figured wood, particularly when the wood it cut and polished from the area of the tree where the trunk connects with the roots. True burr walnut comes from a tree where a rare growth of hundreds of tiny branches has started. Burr walnut is highly prized by fine furniture makers because of the highly decorative nature of the wood figure which adds elegance and style to their pieces. This is the reason we have decided to use burr walnut veneers for our bespoke large dining tables.

Marquetry

Marquetry is the technique of creating designs and patterns by inlaying different materials into a piece of stone or wood. It was developed in the early 16th century in Florence, where stone masons inlaid different types of marble, precious stones and jaspars to create intricate patterns in their stonework, particularly in churches. A similar expertise arose in Flanders for wood marquetry, and this region produced master craftsmen in the art.

The seventeenth century saw the rise of the craft in France, when the era of conspicuous consumption of the French monarchy gave marquetry a boost as highly ornate designs created extremely luxurious looking furniture which was also prized for the skill needed to produce it. Louis XIV commissioned a large amount of marquetry furniture and fittings for his royal palaces and residences and the French aristocracy followed suit.

Early marquetry masters included the Flemish craftsman Pierre Golle. He and his son-in-law, Andre-Charles Boulle founded a dynasty of cabinet makers in Paris who became famous for their marquetry using brass and pewter in intricate foliage designs. They were also suppliers to the royal household and helped to popularise the art.

Marquetry continues to flourish today and uses modern techniques and designs. However, we consider ourselves very lucky to have third generation skilled marquetry craftsmen and women in our Italian workshop capable of producing marquetry that matches any of that produced in bygone eras. This enables us to create this exquisite marquetry large dining table for you.

Winding Mechanism for extending tables

Joseph Fitter became the pioneer developer of the screw mechanism that enables a table winding mechanism to work having bought the patent and business from Samuel Hawkins in 1864. Fitter adapted the screw expander for tables and also used it for such things as piano stools.

French Polish

French polish is made from alcohol and shellac, but it is more of a process than just the application of a type of polish. French polishing requires a lot of repetitive work of buffing and polishing that results in a very high gloss on the wood surface. It also is probably the best way to bring out the fine detail of wood figuring and as such has been used for luxury furniture items since the 18th century when it became prominent.

Surfaces that are French polished are soft and can stain easily, but can be more easily repaired than varnished or lacquer surfaces as patch fixes can be blended easily into the surrounding finish.

Angelica Kauffman, RA (1741 - 1807)

was a Swiss-born Austrian Neoclassical painter who had a successful career in London and Rome. Though born as "Kauffmann", Kauffman is the preferred spelling of her name in English; it is the form she herself used most in signing her correspondence, documents and paintings.

While Kauffman produced many types of art, she identified herself primarily as a history painter, an unusual designation for a woman artist in the 18th century. History painting, was considered the most elite and lucrative category in academic painting during this time period. Under the direction of Sir Joshua Reynolds, the Royal Academy made a strong effort to promote history painting to a native audience who were more interested in commissioning and buying portraits and landscapes.

Despite the popularity that Kauffman enjoyed in British society and her success as an artist, she was disappointed by the relative apathy that the British had towards history painting. Ultimately she left Britain for the continent, where history painting was better established, held in higher esteem and patronized.

The works of Angelica Kauffman have retained their reputation. By 1911, rooms decorated with her work were still to be seen in various quarters. At Hampton Court was a portrait of the duchess of Brunswick; in the National Portrait Gallery, a self-portrait. There were other pictures by her at Paris, at Dresden, in the Hermitage at St Petersburg, in the Alte Pinakothek atMunich, in Kadriorg Palace, Tallinn (Estonia).

Satinwood

is a hard and durable wood with a satinlike sheen, much used in cabinetmaking, especially in marquetry. It comes from two tropical trees of the family Rutaceae (rue family). East Indian or Ceylon satinwood is the yellowish or dark-brown heartwood of Chloroxylon swietenia.

The lustrous, fine-grained, usually figured wood is used for furniture, cabinetwork, veneers, and backs of brushes. West Indian satinwood, sometimes called yellow wood, is considered superior. It is the golden yellow, lustrous, even-grained wood found in the Florida Keys and the West Indies.

It has long been valued for furniture. It is also used for musical instruments, veneers, and other purposes. Satinwood is classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Sapindales, family Rutaceae.