US$1,305.48 This is a beautiful antique Victorian Papier Maché, reading/music table, circa 1860 in date. The table is ebonised and exquisitely inlaid with mother of pearl gilt decorations. It has a beautifully painted landscape scene with a sailing boat in the background together with an inlaid border of flowers. The top tilts on the baluster column with an adjustable ratchet mechanism and the lobed circular base terminates in elegant scroll feet. It is a lovely decorative object which would add character to any period interior Condition: It is in it's excellent original and untouched condition. Dimensions in cm: Height 72 x Width 62 x Depth 62 Dimensions in inches: Height 2 feet, 4 inches x Width 2 feet, 0 inches x Depth 2 feet, 0 inches Papier Maché, French for "chewed paper”, is a composite material consisting of paper pieces or pulp, sometimes reinforced with textiles, bound with an adhesive, such as glue, starch, or wallpaper paste. The traditional method of making papier-m ché adhesive is to use a mixture of water and flour or other starch, mixed to the consistency of heavy cream. Starting around 1725 in Europe, gilded papier-m ché began to appear as a low-cost alternative to similarly treated plaster or carved wood in architecture. Henry Clay of Birmingham, England, patented a process for treating laminated sheets of paper with linseed oil to produce waterproof panels in 1772. These sheets were used for building coach door panels, amongst other structural uses. Theodore Jennens patented a process in 1847 for steaming and pressing these laminated sheets into various shapes, which were then used to manufacture trays, chair backs, and structural panels, usually laid over a wood or metal armature for strength. The papier-m ché was smoothed and lacquered, or finished with a pearl shell finish. The industry lasted...