Antique Credenza
CREDENZAS
Victorian ebonised credenza, about 1870.
Aintheir name means sideboard in Italian, in Britain, credenzas were drawing-room rather than dining-room pieces, distinguished from chiffoniers and simpler side cabinets by their extensive decoration and their shaped (usually curving) outline. The best show strong French or Italian influence.
Generally a central, straight-fronted section with one or two panelled doors, flanked by curved end sections containing display shelves, either open, or enclosed by glazed doors. Inner shelves polished or covered in
velvet. Can be more complex serpentine shape, or straightforward breakfront form. Central door panels may be fully veneered or fretted, mirrored or glazed (and have often been altered at a later date). Plinth base (plain or with decorative aprons) or plinth supported on small turned feet. Uprights flanking central cupboard often faced with carved columns.
Rococo walnut side Cabinet, aboat 1865. Polished (occasionally marble) top above decorated frieze; cheapest versions with dullish-grey/white marble, but other colours on best quality.
Mostly highly figured (often burr) walnut or satinwood; less commonly rosewood; simplest in mahogany. Tulipwood, kingwood, box and many other- for inlay and marquetry; brass and tortoiseshell for boulle. Pine or cheap Honduras mahogany for carcases.
Standard methods employed. Always veneered on dovetailed carcase. Generally too decorative to reproduce economically; most likely alteration is the replacement of the wooden top with marble. Originally these had
no fixings (i.e. the marble just sat on top); signs of fixings on the carcase therefore indicate change.
Inlay: Single or double stringing defining the outline of various sections is common. Marquetry: Mostly confined to friezes and centre of door panels. Floral until about 1865; thereafter neo-classical.
Some doors have porcelain plaques set in the centre, with gilt metal surround; occasionally pietre dura (polished marble/stone mosaic) usually in floral pattern.
Overall patterns of boulle marquetry of brass and tortoiseshell, usually of Louis XIV inspiration.
Occasionally patterns of carved fretwork.
Many pieces have applied ormolu or gilt brass mounts (in French taste) at top and/or base of uprights; occasionally smaller mounts on frieze.
Usually French polish. Sometimes ebonised (i.e. black stain).
Tremendous variation in price depending on quality and extent of decoration. Boulle or fine marquetry at a premium; ebonised pieces never much liked. Almost all in four figures, the best edging into five.
Tags: Antique, breakfront, centre, credenza, CREDENZAS, honduras mahogany, neo classical, panelled doors, porcelain plaques, rosewood, sideboard, tortoiseshell