Antique Rosewood furniture is mainly seen in expensive, finer quality pieces of antique furniture from the Regency and William IV periods. Rosewood has a particular striking grain, not seen in other woods and so offers a unique look. Originally they would have been highly French polished but over time can age to a more mellow sheen and so can make a real statement in your home.
Rosewood was often seen in card tables and decorative smaller antique furnishings, it was a very expensive wood to use in the 19th Century so it was only ever used on choice pieces by master cabinet makers. The grain is quite fantastic with darker figuring in the lighter shades, so offering an amazing finishing touch. Cabinet makers such as Gillows used this timber in there fine pieces or as a decorative inlay banding. Rosewood was also used as decoration in later Victorian and Edwardian furniture with cross banding and floral panels.
If you are looking for beautiful original antique rosewood furniture for sale, look at the fine examples available on our website from good early English periods, not only will this enhance your home but also be a wise investment due to the fine construction and being very collectable.
Types of Antique Rosewood Furniture
Here are a few examples of pieces of antique Rosewood furniture made from this stunning timber. This spectacular exhibition quality Victorian Rosewood inlaid centre antique table has an unusual moulded, shaped top with striking inlay centre, shaped curved sides and an inlaid lower tier. This truly stunning piece stands on elegant splayed legs with castors and has aged to a rich rosewood shade.
This is a slightly earlier example from the William IV era. It has been constructed from quality Rosewood timbers and is Scottish in origin dating from around 1835. This Chiffonier has a beautifully carved scrolled back with central figured panel and scrolled out swept side supports above a beautifully figured top with half round moulded edge. Beneath lies a concealed frieze drawer above two cupboard doors with the most breathtaking fretwork carvings of thistles and leaves with a backdrop of pink silk lining. The corners are canted with elegant scrolled corbels and this truly magnificent antique stands on turned bun feet. The sheer quality of this astonishing antique is evident and this magnificent piece would take pride of place in most homes.
It was also used in very decorative pieces like this elegant Empire style Regency antique Cheval Mirror constructed from a fine quality figured rosewood. It has unusual decorative brass finials that tighten and loosen to adjust the mirror so it can be tilted securely. The mirror is bevelled, has some genuine minor foxing and is framed with a small gilt edge. The beautiful column supports have elegant rope twist lower carvings and the piece stands on four out-swept legs with quality brass castors. It is finished with a cylindrical turned cross stretcher.
As game playing was at the height of fashion in the 19th century only very fine timbers were used to impress in tables for entertaining. This Striking Rosewood Brass inlaid Console / Games table has a stunning figured top with a satinwood cross banded edge. This sits above a frieze with elegant brass inlay and four curved upright supports with four out swept legs again with decorative brass inlays and brass castors.