Wine Table 19th French Round Onyx Top

19th French Pedestal Wine Table with round 1” inch thick veined Onyx polished top made with cultured marble and standing on three turned wooden columns decorated with flower mouldings and finished in gilt.

ABOUT ONYX
Onyx is the stuff of fantasy. Its sparkly translucence belies the fact that it’s solid rock. It looks like a gemstone, with wavy bands of amber, ivory, and white fused together in a fluid pattern. When backlit, onyx radiates a soft, ethereal light. It’s truly an extraordinary stone.

A sample of banded calcite, collected by the author in Montana. Photo by Karin Kirk

In the commercial stone industry, onyx refers a category of stones that are made of layered bands of light-colored or translucent minerals. Most slabs of onyx are what a geologist would call banded calcite. This same material also goes by the names onyx marble, Mexican onyx, or Egyptian alabaster.

Onyx is commercially classified as a sibling to marble because these two stones have the same mineral content. Onyx is made of calcite, which is the same mineral that makes up limestone, marble, and travertine. In fact, banded calcite is a close cousin of travertine and forms in a similar way.

Onyx is born right on the surface. Onyx forms from spring water or groundwater that has an abundance of calcite dissolved in it. When this water emerges at the mouth of a spring, the minerals precipitate out and build a crust of calcite crystals. Over time, more water flows by and more minerals settle out. The variations between the layers are caused by differences in the water flow rate and small amounts of impurities. In its most pure state calcite is white or clear, but it’s easily tinted by minor amounts of other minerals.

The most common color of onyx is a warm honey colour,which is caused by iron oxide.

MEASUREMENTS
Height : 29 Inches ( 73.5 cm )
Top Diameter : 17.25 Inches ( 44 cm )

CONDITION
Very good for the age.Onyx top is in original order, woodwork re-gilded in past century.

All solid, a heavy piece even without the top in place.Very well made.Good quality piece.

DELIVERY :
UK £60 By Private Courier

No Worldwide Supply

TELEPHONE ENQUIRIES : 07765 856171

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