A Victorian foldable games table, England, late 19th century
A Victorian foldable games table, England, late 19th century
An extremely rare foldable games table dating from the latter part of the 19th century. This type of workmanship was quite popular in the Victorian era. The glass top is reverse painted, leaving sections of the glass transparent. These transparent sections were then decorated with butterfly wings, their iridescent colours catching the light to give a wonderful three dimensional effect. The Victorians were obsessed with the natural world, their far flung empire would document creatures from across the globe and a range of taxidermists sprung up all over the country, some of the more famous ones obtaining Royal Warrants such as Rowland Ward Ltd. The era was awash with amateur taxidermists and collectors of items pertaining to the natural world.
This particular table is extremely unusual insofar as, whilst it is fairly common to find trays made in this manner, a reverse painted foldable games table is most probably a one-off. No expense was spared, the frame is made from a distinctive mosaic style, made by glueing sticks of different woods side by side and then slicing it into layers which came into fashion in the mid- 19th century. This form is now generally understood by the term 'Tunbridge Ware' and has its origins in the Tunbridge Wells area of Kent, a famous spa town popular with Victorian tourists at the time.
Condition: some of the paint on the glass on the underside has lifted (please refer to photographs), the metal straps underneath heavily oxidised, some general wear and tear. Overall good condition.
Dimensions: 75cm wide, 75cm deep, 72cm high
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REFERENCE: A2265