George III Mahogany Metamorphic Library Steps/Table
Witney, United Kingdom
£12,500 per item
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Item details
Height
72.0 cm
Width
82.5 cm
Depth
49.5 cm
Wear conditions
Good
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
No: 11099 Meschain and Hervé
An unusual and rare George III mahogany metamorphic set of library steps, converting to a rectangular side table. The hinged top has a brass button releasing a folding set of library steps inset with gilt tooled leather inserts to the 6 treads, the whole raised on square section, chamfered legs.
Circa 1770
Price: £12,500-00p.
This piece featured in Harvey’s Summer Exhibition 1997 “Casing the Classics” and can be seen in a period Library setting. The catalogue was carried by World of Interiors magazine in the June 1997 edition.
Height: 28.3”, 72 cms / Height Opened: 49”, 125 cms / Width: 32.5”, 82.5 cms / Overall Width Opened: 49”, 125 cms / Depth: 19.5”, 49.5 cms
Francois Hervé was a Frenchman living and working in London during the last quarter of the 18th. Century. He appears to have been in partnership with another Frenchman, a Cabinet and Chair maker by the name of John Meschain. He supplied a set of chairs to Shelburne House in 1769. His premises at 32 John Street were taken over by Hervé in 1781. They appeared to have worked together during the 1770s as several sets of folding library steps inscribed with their names either on wooden or brass plaques exist. Hervé worked for a number of fashionable patrons. These included the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Bedford, Earl Spencer and the Duke of Devonshire. Indeed hewhom he supplied several suites of seating furniture at Chatsworth.
Literature: Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700 – 1840, Christopher Gilbert, Furniture History Society, 1996, Pages 34 & 40, Illustrations: Plates 185-188, 493/4 and 628-632.
The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterers Drawing-Book, Thomas Sheraton, 1793 plate 185, and Third Edition 1802, Appendix, pp 9-11, plate 9 and pp 42/43 plate 22.
“Casing the Classics” David Harvey, Exhibition Catalogue, Summer 1987 – The World of Interiors.
Condition report:
Good condition.
Additional dimensions information:
Height: 28.3”, 72 cms / Height Opened: 49”, 125 cms / Width: 32.5”, 82.5 cms / Overall Width Opened: 49”, 125 cms / Depth: 19.5”, 49.5 cms
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.
All UK deliveries are free. For overseas shipments please contact us for a quote and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Estimated delivery time
Less than one week
Free collection available
Yes
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- Selling at Vinterior since 2019
- 12 sales
- Ships from Witney, United Kingdom
Cancellations and Returns
Last updated: 24th March 2025
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