Regency Rosewood and Calamander Games Table Attributed to George Oakley
Stock No: 11313
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Country: English
Date: Circa 1810 - 1820
Medium: Calamander, Rosewood, Ormolu
Dimensions
Height: 91.00cm (35.83 inches)
Width: 46.00cm (18.11 inches)
Depth: 28.50cm (11.22 inches)
Main description
Regency period calamander, rosewood and ormolu mounted games table in the manner of George Oakley. The rectangular top is veneered in a rosewood, crossbanded in rosewood, and then crossbanded again with a wide calamander border. The top lid opens, and swivels 90 degrees to lay flat to become a card table. The frieze is veneered with a lively rosewood and crossbanded on all four sides with brass stringing and sits above a solid rosewood pedestal. The ring turned pedestal is mounted with crisp gilt brass ormolu fittings. The games table is raised on four elegant out-splayed brass strung legs. The rose wood legs are adorned with a gilt brass ormolu fern-shaped mount and fitted with the original gilt brass hairy paw caps and castors
I believe the card table to have the quality of George Oakley’s cabinet making: the mounts are very similar to known Oakley pieces. George Oakley used calamander, or coromandel, and the card table design is very chic and avant-guard, much like his Regency furniture.
View the complete Freshfords Tables collection.
What is Rosewood?
Rosewood is a richly coloured tropical hardwood prized for its deep brown tones, darker figuring and natural lustre. During the Regency and Victorian periods, it became one of the most desirable cabinet making timbers, widely used for high quality furniture, writing tables, musical instruments and decorative veneers.
For further information, see our Woods encyclopaedia on Rosewood.
What is Calamander?
Calamander, a rare species of variegated ebony endemic to Sri Lanka, is widely regarded as one of the most precious timbers in the history of cabinet making. Defined by a warm, golden honey ground crossed with intricate, dark brown or black swirling bands, it features a dense, tight grain that polishes to a luminous natural finish. Because the wood was sold by weight and proved exceptionally hard, heavy, and brittle to work, 18th and 19th-century master cabinetmakers reserved it for fine decorative veneers, crossbanding, tea caddies, and writing boxes rather than solid structural carcasses. Colonial overexploitation renders true Calamander extinct as a commercial source, leaving surviving period pieces highly prized by collectors for their historical rarity, stability, and striking aesthetic presence.
For further information, see our Woods encyclopaedia on Calamander.
What Is the Regency Period?
The Regency period (1811-1820) formed the closing years of the Georgian era and was defined by refined classical design inspired by ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt. Furniture from the period often features bold veneers, clean architectural lines and restrained decorative details in brass, ebony and gilt bronze.
For further information, see our Antique Furniture Periods encyclopaedia on Regency Period.
Why Buy From Freshfords Antiques?
Established in 1987, Freshfords Antiques has spent nearly four decades sourcing and curating the finest examples of English antique furniture. Our reputation is built upon a deep-rooted specialism in the Georgian and Regency periods, where we focus on selecting pieces that retain their genuine age, original patination, and unimpeachable authenticity. We believe that an antique should not only be a significant historical object but also a functional and beautiful addition to a contemporary home.
As proud members of the British Antique Dealers’ Association (BADA), we operate under a rigorously enforced code of conduct that prioritises professional integrity and expertise. Membership of BADA is only granted after a thorough election procedure and is subject to annual review, ensuring that our clients can purchase with complete confidence. When you acquire a piece from Freshfords, you are benefiting from a wealth of experience, a dedication to craftsmanship, and a commitment to preserving the heritage of the finest English cabinet making.
