Piero Pompeani trading as Golden Age Restorations since 1989.
Phone: 0438 298740 Email: goldenagerestorations@gmail.com
The following items have been restored by Piero and are for sale.
Mid-18th century chest of drawers
Item no. 77
Very attractive mid-18th century (circa 1760) mahogany chest with good colour and patina. Consisting of four long drawers, original handles and locks and raised escutcheons, this piece sits on flat bracket feet, which have been raised a couple of centimetres. The lovely flame mahogany veneer on top is fully three millimetres thick, no doubt hand cut, with Chippendale style moulding. The chest presented with a plywood back from a previous restoration, which has now been replaced with 19th century panelling. This restoration has renewed a previous effort at setting the rear panelling further back, thus providing more space for drawers to close into. It is a problem that occurs when chest side panels shrink considerably over time and where drawers were built very close to the back. Nonetheless, the drawers still close a little proud of the front.
Height 94cm – width 105cm – depth 54.5cm
Price: $2600
Silky oak library bookcase
Item no. 80
1920s, possibly Edwardian, double-bodied, glazed bookcase in solid Australian silky oak and hoop pine. Several species come under the title silky oak, and this one may be southern silky oak (grevillea robusta). The doors are beautifully figured, showing the characteristic ray figure, and the glass possesses a lovely wavy texture. There is thick (15mm) tongue and groove hoop pine panelling lining the back. The cabinet is tall and commodious with an internal depth of 30.5cm and adjustable shelving, plenty of room for those large reference books. It is a well-made piece with very neat hand-cut dovetails joining the carcases. It has been re-polished.
Height 239cm – width 112.5cm – depth 37cm
Price: $2200
Japanese cha-dansu (tea utensil chest)
Item no. 74
Antique late-Meiji cha-dansu (Japanese tea utensil chest) circa 1890s, with six drawers, two sliding doors (removable) and one drop-in door. The sliding doors display book-matched keyaki panels with a lovely grain pattern. Cabinet facing and drawer lining is in kiri wood (paulownia) and the rest of the carcase is in sugi. A steel frame has been constructed to optimise the chest’s practical uses, but it can be removed if a more traditional look is desired. There are no locks, as was typical with a tea utensil chest, and the handles are forged warabite (bracken style). The whole retains a very pleasing, worn patina.
Height 89.5cm – height w/out base 57.5cm – width 89cm – depth 40cm
Price: $1650
Japanese toilet mirror
Item no. 56
Japanese ash toilet mirror, circa 1900, with four drawers. Swing bevelled mirror is readily detachable using a sliding dovetail joint. Elegant proportions, pleasant mid-tone colour with fretted design. Drawers are lined in kiri wood (paulownia).
SOLD
Pair of faux satinwood painted armchairs
Item no. 67
A pair of elegant beech, caned armchairs, in the classical revival style of the late 19th century (circa 1890-1900). At first glance they appear to be satinwood, reminiscent of the classical revival period of the late 18th century. However, these examples make use of beech wood, and transfer designs to replicate the earlier style. The sinuous arms are steam bent and lend the chairs an elegant flow. Remarkably, after more than a hundred years, the original cane is in excellent condition and the chairs quite sound. Upon examining the chairs, my thoughts turned to a book I purchased way back in 1989, by Florence de Dampierre, titled The Best of Painted Furniture, and lo and behold, on page 107, is a matching example of this very pair, right down to the central medallion depicting putti and the green painted foliage. The example cited was from the collection of Sir Geoffrey Shakerley (d. 2012). Certainly, they are light, balanced and soothing to look at. Delicate, with clean lines, they are even comfortable. They show some wear consistent with age and use.
Height 83.5cm – seat width 51.5cm – seat depth 44.5cm
Price: $1450
Early 19th century tilting table
Item no. 70
Elegant mahogany and rosewood tilting table, circa 1825, with beautifully patinated surface to the top. The rectangular top with canted corners is veneered in a mellowed and faded flame mahogany with rosewood cross-banding. Apart from some repairs to the latter and waxing, the surface is in original condition. The latch is a later replacement, which keeps the top firmly in place. The serpentine legs have been restored and are in excellent condition. This attractive piece is an ideal occasional table, or can be tilted in the corner and admired for its glorious patina.
Height 72cm – depth 54cm – width 43cm
Price: $ 950
Early- to mid-19th century four-drawer desk
Item no. 13
Elegant and practical four-drawer mahogany desk from c. 1830-50. The desk has mahogany cross-banding to the top, ebony banding, and ebonised ringlets to the turned legs, and generally a lovely original patina. It has an adjustable writing surface which comfortably accommodates the use of a laptop keyboard and leaves space around the slope for fixed items (eg lamp, books). The faux leather may or may not be original, but is most likely also 19th century. The desk bears a striking similarity to an illustration on p.42 of the Pictorial Dictionary of British 19th Century Furniture Design (Antique Collectors’ Club, 2003), which is attributed to W. Smee and Sons. Castors are new replacements. Drawer locks are in working order.
Height 77cm to the writing surface; 84.5 cm overall height – depth 69 cm – width 106.5cm
Price: $ 1950
French oak extension dining table c. 1880
Item no. 23
Elegant and versatile late nineteenth century French oak extension table. Fully closed, without leaves, the table seats a cosy 4. It can be progressively extended to suit the occasion, reaching a maximum length of just under 4 metres, seating 14 comfortably, or a snug 16. Drop-down leg frames support the longer table, but up to 2 leaves can be used without the frames. The table slides out manually without a winder, and each leaf has a central catch to connect it to the next. The table can be wheeled on its castors in the closed position.
The table comes with six leaves (4 narrow, 2 wide), and a custom-made box for storing them (see photos below).
The table has been fully rebuilt and finished in a serviceable Danish oil. The leaves are all new replacements.
Closed: length 131 cm; width 100 cm; height 77.5 cm
Fully extended: length 396.5 cm
Price: $4750 (including storage box)
Early Dutch oak dressing table
Item no. 35
A delightful early 18th century (circa 1720) Dutch oak, 3-drawer dressing/side table. This piece has a warm, time-worn patina, poise and personality. Restoration included replacement of three pad feet which were copied from the existing original. The shaped knee-hole apron and knee blocks were also missing and all repairs colour matched to existing finish. More detailed information re restoration available on request. Reduced from $4200
Height 70 cm – depth 54 cm – width 74 cm
Price: $3750
Set of four George III dining chairs
Item no. 3
Set of four George III, circa 1780s Hepplewhite period dining chairs. These camel back mahogany chairs, with wheat sheaf motif to the splat, are in very sound condition. The finish has been revived and the drop-in seats have been re-covered.
Height 95cm; depth 42.5cm; width 52.5cm
Price: $ 1,350 for the set
Regency bow front chest
Item no. 58
Beautifully figured mahogany, Regency period, bow front chest, circa 1810. Comprising three long and two short drawers, functioning original brass locks and alternately ebonised reed-turned feet. Unconventionally, but perhaps due to the preference for rosewood during this period, the drawer sides are rosewood. The squared corners of the main cabinet with ebony stringing and cross-banding, rather than reeded moulding, suggest an era circa 1800, however, the turned, reeded feet are more akin to Regency. The overall impression is of a transitional piece. Although it had turned wooden knobs when found, marks suggested original round metal handles and have been replaced by this restorer accordingly. There has been extensive rebuilding of drawers to ensure smooth functioning, and refinishing was required, while retaining as much faded patina as possible. A very elegant piece.
Height 97.5cm; depth 56cm; width 106cm
Price: $ 2,400
William IV mahogany card table
Item no. 1
Beautifully figured William IV mahogany fold-over card table circa 1830. It has a hollowed out base, typical of the period, and is easy to manoeuvre on its castors. With a very compact footprint, it makes an ideal hall table, or it can be opened out as a card table.
Height 77cm Top dimensions: closed 96.5 x 47.7 cm; open 96.5 x 95.2 cm
Price: $2100
Georgian medicine box
Item no. 21
Handsome mahogany medicine/apothecary box, circa 1820. It is fitted with a bottom drawer released by a brass pin. Its handles are original and it has a working lock with a replacement key. The original underlid fabric has been re-used with new padding.
Height 26 cm – depth 18 cm – width 26.5 cm
Price: $795
Chippendale Period Chest – c. 1760
Item no. 22
Mid-late 18th century Cuban mahogany Chippendale chest circa 1760. Suggesting an earlier period with lipped drawers and front to back oak drawer bases, this piece retains its original hardware and functioning locks. Doric capped quarter columns add some class. Ogee bracket feet to the front (19th century replacement of right bracket and back panelling) and flat brackets to the rear, probably an economy measure given the high cost of mahogany. Restored. Pleasing colour and wax finish.
Width: 123 cm – height: 110 cm – depth: 56 cm
Sold
Pair of 18th century French Louis XV side chairs
Item no. 303
Elegant pair of painted and gilded French side chairs circa 1775. Replacement cane to backs and one seat as well as one missing seat frame replaced. Structural joint rebuilding, some paintwork and gilding repairs carried out, whilst retaining as much as possible of the existing finish. Now in excellent condition.
Price: $4250 pr
Restored furniture which has been sold can be viewed on page 2.
You can also see examples of Piero’s previous works here.