Gifts
Antique Coromandel Writing Cabinet By Houghton And Gunn Dated 1878
London, United Kingdom
£2,350 per item
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Item details
Height
36.0 cm
Width
41.0 cm
Depth
18.0 cm
Wear conditions
Excellent
Wear conditions
Excellent
Shows little to no signs of wear and tear.
Good
May show slight traces of use in keeping with age. Most vintage and antique items fit into this condition.
Average
Likely to show signs of some light scratching and ageing but still remains in a fair condition.
Apparent Wear and Tear
Visible signs of previous use including scratches, chips or stains.
Please refer to condition report, images or make a seller enquiry for additional information.
Description
A very fine antique Victorian Coromandel writing or stationary cabinet made by the world famous London box makers and retailers Houghton and Gunn, dated December 1878.
The wonderful antique fall front is centred by a silvered AH monogram beneath a coronet and opening to reveal an arrangement of labelled pigeon holes, a fold out letter rack, small books, and pull out ink and pen compartments.
If features a secret compartment on the right side which can be opened by pulling the right hand side divider, ideal for playing cards and dice.
There is no mistaking its unique quality and design, which is sure to make it a treasured piece by any discerning collector.
Coromandel, also known as Calamander wood, is a higly prized and valuable exotic wood from India and Sri Lanka and was only used in top quality pieces.
Complete with working Bramah lock, the lock is stamped Batson for Henry John & Albert Edward Batson.
It bears both the maker's and the retailer's plaque:
'HOUGHTON & GUN, 162 NEW BOND STREET'
This is centred by a Victorian date 'lozenge' for December 1878
Condition:
In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.
Dimensions in cm:
Height 36 x Width 41 x Depth 18
Dimensions in inches:
Height 1 foot, 2 inches x Width 1 foot, 4 inches x Depth 7 inches
Houghton & Gunn William Houghton originally established his business in 1822. By 1841, he was based at 162 Bond Street, London. It wasn't until 1868 that he went into partnership with Charles Henry Gunn. Known as Houghton & Gunn, the business remained at the same Bond Street address until it was bought out by Asprey (its next door neighbour) in 1906.
Coromandel wood or Calamander wood
is a valuable wood from India, Sri Lanka and South East Asia. It is of a hazel-brown color, with black stripes (or the other way about), very heavy and hard. It is also known as Macassar Ebony or variegated ebony and is closely related to genuine ebony, but is obtained from different species in the same genus; one of these is Diospyros quaesita Thwaites, from Sri Lanka. The name Calamander comes from the local sinhalese name, 'kalu-medhiriya', which means dark chamber; referring to the characteristic ebony black wood.
Coromandel wood has been logged to extinction over the last 2 to 3 hundred years and is no longer available for new work in any quantity. Furniture in coromandel is so expensive and so well looked after that even recycling it is an unlikely source. A substitute, Macassar Ebony, has similar characteristics and to the untrained eye is nearly the same but it lacks the depth of colour seen in genuine Coromandel.
Cancellations
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Returns
We have a 14-day return guarantee for orders from individual sellers, within the UK and European Union. View full policy.
Free UK Mainland delivery.
Estimated delivery time
Less than one week
Free collection available
Yes
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- Selling at Vinterior since 2016
- 285 sales
- Ships from London, United Kingdom
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Cancellations and Returns
Last updated: 17th October 2024
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