Featured The largest Khatam fall front cabinet I can find anywhere in the world 19/18thc?

This huge Khatam cabinet needs restoration as the fall front is broken in half but is still a very important piece. Made in the late 18th or early 19th c
size 50cm x 45cm x 30cm

 

Interesting... from the photos it appears to have a lock, what type is it?

 

The Lock and the hinges were changed in the Victorian period, clearly the Victorians didn't think the Persians were any good at metal work (they weren't) so they got changed

 

It is strange though because normally they have a clasp lock but there isn't any signs of holes?

 

It is beautiful, I am sure you'll do a wonderful job restoring it. Looks like someone also put plants on top.
I hate it when people don't respect the work that went into something. A cleaner used 'top quality' detergent on one of our Chinese lacquer gaming tables, no amount of tlc could reverse the damage. I put it in a dark corner, but still get sad when I look at it.
Mind you, your 'plant watering' damage should be reversible.

 

These often have damage because restoration is close to impossible, could you not re-polish your gaming table?

 

These do make good money these days, I bet the person who treated it so badly in the past wished they hadn't ..........http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/...front-cabinet-qajar-iran-5422456-details.aspx

 

We had glass tops on the tables to protect them. They were in a gallery first, where someone had already used one to write a note, pushing the pen really hard.
When the cleaner had finished, she put the glass back on, and the moisture ate its way into the lacquer. I only noticed a couple of days later, and too much damage had already been done. The lacquer was saturated with the stuff and the chemical composition had changed.

 

That's a real shame the only way it to take off the old lacquer and have it redone.

 

Hi, It is very beautiful, keep restoration to a minimum, the damage is part of its journey.......the same with us humans!!!!

 

I doubt I'll take it on at the moment, I might sacrifice another smaller Khatam tray I bought of the same age to restore the cabinet but the larger pieces often have damage and the tray is almost perfect so I don't know if I'll bother, and it's one f a pair

 

These are so beautiful ...is this your speciality?

 

It's something I look out for as it's often missed or not recognised by dealers so I can get a bargain. I do like it a lot, I marvel at the skill, time, and patience it took to produce

 

It is Chinese black lacquer inlaid with mother of pearl. If that is removed there is just bare wood without the artistry of the piece. Having it redone would not only mean we end up with a modern table, but, given that Chinese lacquer took months of layering, would cost the earth. If we ever find someone capable of doing it. Plus shipping cost to China. It is probably less costly to find another table. Sad thing is, this is one of a pair.

It would be a pity to sacrifice an almost perfect tray and to split up a pair as well. Maybe you'll come across another Khatam item you can use.

 

Yes, I have looked into making Chinese black lacquer (there is a video on you tube on how to do it) and it's above my skill set although french polishing is the same technique & I've managed to learn how to do that. I probably won't use the trays & I'll just keep an eye out for a badly damaged box that's going cheap, although I did spot one that was in terrible condition two months back on ebay and it went for £160

 

Sorry £146.....http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VERY-LARG...u2b5FgfivA4HKHjCE0XuA%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

 

Hi again, Don't worry about the financial value, the items speak for themselves, where else in this modern world can you find such beautiful painstaking work.....there is a lot of total rubbish that fetches high prices, whilst the real works of art are overlooked. This , in the UK, is mainly down to current interior trends ....the younger generation prefer a few candles and a bit of driftwood, and call their interiors minimal, whilst having no concept of minimalism.It is always fashion in antiques,but these lovely items are cross over and could fit equally well in a modern interior....so don't rush to sell them on....they are worth more than their current fiscal value!!!

 

Ah yes, hipster driftwood hooks, twenty quid a pop in Dalston.