Antique 19th Century Victorian Marquetry Inlaid Revolving Bookcase

This is an exquisite English antique late Victorian mahogany revolving bookcase, circa 1890 in date. The top has elaborate circular foliate marquetry inlaid decoration to the centre as well as satinwood crossbanding around it. The bookcase revolves on its base so that you can easily select your book. The quality and attention to detail throughout is second to none. The item is not CITES pursuant. Condition: In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned, polished and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 81 x Width 51 x Depth 51 Dimensions in inches: Height 2 foot, 8 inches x Width 1 foot, 8 inches x Depth 1 foot, 8 inches Mahogany is probably one of the largest ‘families’ of hardwood, having many different varieties within its own species. Mahogany has been used for centuries in ship building, house building, furniture making etc and is the core structure of just about every 19th century vanity box, dressing case or jewellery box. It became more of a Victorian trend to dress Mahogany with these decorative veneers, such as Rosewood, Kingwood, Burr Walnut and Coromandel, so that the actual Mahogany was almost hidden from view. Mahogany itself is a rich reddish brown wood that can range from being plain in appearance to something that is so vibrant, figured and almost three dimensional in effect. Although Mahogany was most often used in its solid form, it also provided some beautifully figured varieties of veneer like ‘Flame’ Mahogany and ‘Fiddleback’ Mahogany (named after its preferred use in the manufacture of fine musical instruments). Cuban Mahogany was so sought after, that by the late 1850’s, this particular variety became all but extinct.