Bespoke Handmade Burr Walnut & Marquetry Dining Table Set

This is a stunning bespoke handmade dining set comprising a 7ft dining table with a set of eight matching chairs in stunning burr walnut with exquisite marquetry decoration.

The fantastic bespoke handmade burr walnut marquetry dining table is made from burr walnut which  has a beautiful grain and the hand cut floral marquetry decoration compliments it beautifully. 

The  exquisite hand cut inlaid floral marquetry decorations of bouquets of flowers, vases and garlands  are cut from different veneers  which are of various colours. To highlight the marquetry, as well as the natural grain of the wood, this table has been expertly  French polished by hand.

It has one 60cm  leaf which  can be added or removed as required to suit the occasion by a special winding mechanism, and it stands on elegantly carved and inlaid legs which terminate in brass cap castors.

The set of eight matching chairs  comprises six side chairs and a pair of armchairs.  These fabulous chairs are made from solid walnut with burr walnut and  marquetry decoration to match the table, they have drop in seats that can be removed in warm weather to reveal the caned seats below for cooler dining.

This stunning dining set will make a profound impression on your dinner guests  and will receive the maximum amount of attention wherever it is placed.

Condition:

This is a new bespoke handmade table and chair set.

The making of a marquetry masterpiece

The making of a bespoke marquetry dining table involves many phases - carried out with the highest level of attention to detail - by third generation master craftsmen in our workshop in Italy.

First the design of the marquetry is drawn on paper.

The paper is then glued on to a sheet of plywood and the veneers are attached to the underside with pins.

There can be a maximum of 16 sheets of veneer.  In this case, there are 8 for the burr walnut and 8 for the marquetry.

With a fret cutter, using a very fine blade, the marquetry is cut out, using the burr walnut and various coloured veneers to compose the flowers. Today we use an electric fret cutter, although in the 18th and 19th centuries the cutters were operated by treadles.

All of the cut out pieces of veneer are then placed on a large tray.

They are then singed by being placed in hot sand in a red hot crucible. This singed effect gives different shades to the various veneers, depending on how deep and how long they are left in the hot sand.

The various items of veneer are then inserted into the burr walnut one by one. After they are inserted, tape is placed over them to keep them in place. They are then turned over and a sheet of glued paper is placed over them all, after which the tape can be removed.

The prepared solid mahogany table is then veneered with mahogany - twice on the under side, horizontally and vertically, and then once on the top side.

The prepared marquetry and burr walnut sheet is then placed on top and the whole table top is placed into a hot press, which glues the sheet to the top.

The backing paper can then be sanded off.

The table top is then veneered 4 times to prevent the top from bowing or warping.

Once the assembly is complete, the table is French polished by hand using natural products, resulting in a stunning bespoke masterpiece of marquetry.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 78 x Width 210 x Depth 110 - Fully Extended

Height 78 x Width 150 x Depth 110 - With the leaf removed

Height 105 x Width 48 x Depth 46 - Chairs

Height 105 x Width 56 x Depth 53 - Armchairs

Height 53 - Seat height

Dimensions in inches:

Height 2 foot, 7 inches x Width 6 foot, 11 inches x Depth 3 foot, 7 inches - Fully Extended

Height 2 foot, 7 inches x Width 4 foot, 11 inches x Depth 3 foot, 7 inches - With the leaf removed

Height 3 foot, 5 inches x Width 1 foot, 7 inches x Depth 1 foot, 6 inches - Chairs

Height 3 foot, 5 inches x Width 1 foot, 10 inches x Depth 1 foot, 9 inches - Armchairs

Height 1 foot, 9 inches - Seat height

urr Walnut refers to the swirling figure present in nearly all walnut when cut and polished, and especially in the wood taken from the base of the tree where it joins the roots. However the true burr is a rare growth on the tree where hundreds of tiny branches have started to grow. Burr walnut produces some of the most complex and beautiful figuring you can find.

Marquetry is decorative artistry where pieces of material (such as wood, mother of pearl, pewter, brass silver or shell) of different colours are inserted into surface wood veneer to form intricate patterns such as scrolls or flowers.

Winding Mechanism for extending tables
A man by the name of Samuel Hawkins applied for a patent on a screw expander on June 6th, 1861. Presumably, Mr. Hawkins either died or retired because his business was taken over by a young machinist named Joseph Fitter  in 1864.
Joseph Fitter operated a machinist shop where he produced winding mechanisms for extending tables as well as screw expanders for piano stools and other applications at 210 Cheapside, Birmingham England by the name of Britannia Works.