ENGLISH · VICTORIAN · CIRCA 1860
A highly decorative antique Victorian burr walnut and inlaid oval loo table, dating from circa 1860, with a richly figured tilt-top, floral marquetry decoration and substantial carved pedestal base.
The broad oval top is particularly impressive, combining richly figured burr walnut with a decorative inlaid border and central floral medallion. The contrast between the warm walnut and darker inlaid panels gives the surface exceptional visual depth and makes the table especially striking when displayed in either its horizontal or upright position.
Date
Circa 1860
Origin
England
Period
Victorian
Timber
Burr Walnut & Inlay
Key Characteristics
- Victorian oval loo table
- English, circa 1860
- Highly figured burr walnut top
- Decorative floral marquetry and inlay
- Central oval floral medallion
- Inlaid border with scrolling floral decoration
- Traditional tilt-top mechanism
- Carved central pedestal
- Four sweeping carved supports
- Original-style castors
- Impressive decorative display when tilted upright
Burr Walnut & Inlaid Top
The table is dominated by its large oval top, veneered in richly figured burr walnut and arranged to create a broad, decorative surface with considerable natural movement and tonal variation.
Around the perimeter runs a sequence of darker shaped reserves enriched with finely worked floral and scrolling inlay. These create a strong decorative border while leaving the burr walnut centre visually dominant.
At the centre is an oval floral medallion, finely inlaid with flowers, leaves and scrolling stems. This central motif gives the top a clear focal point and reinforces the decorative richness associated with high-quality mid-Victorian walnut furniture.
Tilt-Top Mechanism
The table incorporates the traditional tilting mechanism associated with Victorian loo tables, allowing the top to be raised into a vertical position when not in use.
In its upright position, the full decorative scheme of the top can be appreciated almost as a large piece of marquetry, with the burr walnut figuring, floral centre and surrounding inlaid border forming a particularly striking display.
This dual-purpose design was one of the great practical advantages of the loo table form, allowing a substantial table to be moved or displayed more easily while also reducing the amount of floor space required when the table was not in use.
Carved Pedestal Base
The oval top is supported by a substantial central pedestal enriched with bold carved ornament. The upper section is carved with flowing foliate forms before descending to a broad central support.
From the pedestal extend four sweeping legs, each deeply shaped and carved before terminating in scrolling feet fitted with castors.
The base provides an effective sculptural counterpoint to the decorative top, combining strength with the flowing curvilinear form characteristic of mid-nineteenth-century Victorian furniture.
Victorian Decorative Furniture
Burr walnut became one of the defining luxury cabinetmaking materials of the mid-Victorian period. Its richly figured surface was particularly suited to large table tops, where the complexity of the grain could be displayed across a broad uninterrupted area.
Inlaid examples such as this are especially decorative, combining the natural figuring of the walnut with the controlled precision of marquetry ornament.
The table's generous proportions make it suitable as a centre table, occasional dining table or statement piece within a drawing room, library, entrance hall or substantial contemporary interior.
A Decorative Victorian Statement Table
The combination of richly figured burr walnut, floral inlay, carved pedestal and functional tilt-top construction gives this table considerably more decorative interest than a standard Victorian centre table.
Displayed horizontally, it provides a substantial and highly usable surface. Tilted upright, the top becomes an impressive decorative feature in its own right, revealing the complete marquetry scheme and dramatic oval composition.
Offered by Hawkins Antiques, family antique furniture specialists since the 1960s.
