Antique of the Week: Regency Brass Inlaid Rosewood Metamorphic Bench

My interests are always changing.  Recently, I’ve been more and more into interior design.  This year, I spent some time decorating my apartment a little bit.  After 10 years, I finally just got window treatments.  My research has more formally introduced me into the world of antiques.  I now love antiques.  If I’m on my phone and not on Instagram or Robinhood, I’m on 1st Dibs or EBTH (Everything But The House).

I also want to get back into blogging.  I miss the writing, it really helps me organize my thoughts.  I also tend to research and verify facts more meticulously.  It’s also a nice reminder of things.  For a year I had almost a post a day, organized and scheduled.  A new weekly post I’m starting is…wait for it….wait for it…Antique of the Week.  This is the first one.  Enjoy.

Here we are with a Regency Brass Inlaid Rosewood Metamorphic Bench.  While at first glance, it might be “eh” to some.  But if you look closer, the brass inlay is very cool, for lack of better wordage.  I’m no experienced antiquities master, but I don’t think I’ve seen anything like that before.  Remember, this is my first Antique of the Week!

I know that I like this piece, but I did have to look up “regency” and “rosewood” to better understand this bench.  Regency is descriptive of the period when the bench was made.  The Regency was a time in the UK when King George III was considered unfit to rule, and his son ruled as Prince Regent (1811-1820).  So, from there we know the bench is from early 19th century England.

Rosewood is not wood from a rose tree.  A rose tree is actually a collecting of bushes grown together.  Rosewood is a hardwood legume.  It gets its name from the sweet smell it retains for quite some time.  I love the grain in this.

But wait, there’s more!  When the seller says “metamorphic,” they mean metamorphic.  This is the 19th century version of Transformers.  Lift up that leather bench seat, and you’ve got yourself a ladder, or “library steps” as they’re described.

Now for the other kind of details.  I found this on 1st Dibs.  It’s listed for sale by Antiques Period in Beacon Hill.  It’s offered at $12,000.  18in. high, 34 1/2in. wide and 16 1/2in. deep. Opened, 36in. high and 49in. wide.