Antique French Steamer Trunk / Coffee Table by Au Départ, 19th Century

A fine beautiful antique French Louis Revival giltwood three panel dressing screen with portrait, circa 1850 in date. The screen features three beautifully carved beaded egg...

This is a high quality antique Victorian coromandel porcelain inset adjustable book slide, by Betjemann's, 19th century and circa 1870 in date. It is made of stunnning coromandel...

This is a lovely antique Victorian burr walnut coffee table, circa 1860 in date. The oval table top features a beautifully ...

This is a fine antique French Directoire marble topped and ormolu mounted mahogany console table, dating from Circa 1840. The shaped Carrara marble top features a decorative three quarter pieced brass gallery over a frieze drawer decorated with beaded panels. It is raised on four elegant tapering and fluted Doric columns united by an undertier on cone shaped ormolu mounted feet. It has beautifully refined proportions and retains excellent colour and patination. The Botanical name for the mahogany this item is made of is Swietenia Macrophylla and this type of mahogany is not subject to cites regulation. Condition: In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned, polished and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 87 x Width 87 x Depth 32 Dimensions in inches: Height 2 foot, 10 inches x Width 2 foot, 10 inches x Depth 1 foot, 1 inch Directoire style was a period in the decorative arts, fashion, and especially furniture design in France concurrent with the Directory (November 2, 1795–November 10, 1799), the later part of the French Revolution. The style uses Neoclassical architectural forms, minimal carving, planar expanses of highly grained veneers, and applied decorative painting. It is a style transitional between Louis XVI and Empire. The Directoire style was primarily established by the architects and designers Charles Percier (1764–1838) and Pier François Léonard Fontaine (1762–1853). In its use of Neoclassical architectural form and decorative motifs the style anticipates the slightly later and more elaborate Empire style, which was introduced after Napoleon established the First French Empire. It reflected the Revolutionary belief in the values of republican Rome. Ormolu - Gilt Bronze (from French 'or moulu', signifying ground or pounded gold) is an 18th-century English term for applying finely ground, high-carat gold in a mercury amalgam to an object of bronze.The mercury is driven off in a kiln leaving behind a gold-coloured veneer known as 'gilt bronze'. The manufacture of true ormolu employs a process known as mercury-gilding or fire-gilding, in which a solution of nitrate of mercury is applied to a piece of copper, brass, or bronze, followed by the application of an amalgam of gold and mercury. The item was then exposed to extreme heat until the mercury burned off and the gold remained, adhered to the metal object. Carrara marble - is a type of white or blue-grey marble popular for use in sculpture and building decor. It is quarried at the city of Carrara in the province of Massa-Carrara (Tuscany, Italy). Carrara marble has been used since the time of Ancient Rome; the Pantheon and Trajan's Column in Rome are constructed of it. Many sculptures of the Renaissance, such as Michelangelo's David, were carved from Carrara marble. For Michelangelo at least, Carrara marble was valued above all other stone, except perhaps that of his own quarry in Pietrasanta. The Marble Arch in London and the Duomo di Siena are also made from this stone, as are the interiors of Manila Cathedral, the cold-white marbles of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque and the campus of Harvard Medical...

This is a beautiful antique French kidney shaped occasional table, circa 1860 in date. It has been masterfully crafted from beautiful wood with a star burst design and gallered sides over a shaped frieze with a drawer. It is raised on a pair of elegant tapering cabriole legs united by an undertier with a three quarter pieced brass gallery and raised on sabot mounted feet. Add a elegant touch to your home with this exceptional piece of antique French furniture...

This is a superb Victorian burr walnut and marquetry coffee table, circa 1860 in date. The table top is oval in shape and features wonderfully figured burr walnut with superb boxwoo...

A glorious trunk by the French maker Au Départ. With brass fittings and leather trim. Circa 1910. The damaged original cotton lining to the interior has been replaced with a similar one to match. Dimensions: 101 cm/39¾ inches (length) x 53 cm/20? inches (depth) x 47.5 cm/18¾ inches (height). Au Départ are one of the Grande Marques of French luggage makers. They were founded in 1834 around the advent of railway travel; Au Départ literally means 'at departure'. In 1847, Au Départ first opened at 7 Boulevard Denain in Paris selling luggage and travel goods, positioned opposite the newly opened Gare du Nord railway station. However, it wasn't until 1871 that the company really began to expand, when it was taken over by the Bertin brothers, Ernest and Paul who had started their business selling haberdashery at the Saint-Quentin market and then expanded to include bags and baskets. Under the stewardship of the Bertin brother’s, a second Paris shop was opened in 1874 at 29, Avenue de l’Opéra, while the Boulevard Denain store expanded its product offering to include armoury, hunting and fishing equipment...

A rare antique flat top trunk made in Paris, France by Au Depart. Interior with removable tray.

An antique barrel-stave steamer trunk dating from the mid 19th century. Made of oak, it has a domed lid with gold painted brass corners, black leather strapping and original iron hin...

A 19th century Italian leather trunk with metal studs decorating the exterior, original riveted hardware, linen interior, brass hinges. There are remnants of two decals from travel.

Rare late 19th century large American leather covered rattan basket steamer trunk manufactured by Mendel. The trunk features a rattan frame covered with leather and naugahyde having ...

19th Century American “M Cherry” Travel Chest or Steamer Trunk A very useful decorative travel trunk, the Trunk is covered with a colourful embossed leath...