Louis XVI Satinwood, Amaranth and Brass Mounted Table

An exceptionally fine late 18th Century Louis XVI period Bois de Citronnier and Amaranth Inlaid, Brass Mounted and Marble Topped Octagonal Gueridon Table

French, c. 1785.

The octagonal, revolving and tilting top, with conforming highly figured Sainte-Anne des Pyrénées marble inset, banded in citronnier and amaranth and finely strung with ebony and boxwood, mounted with brass moulding around the edge, above a hexagonal center column decorated with fluted marquetry, over three scrolled citronnier veneered legs, having amaranth-banded edges.

The exquisite craftsmanship, fine detail, use of exotic veneers and rare marble, as well as superb proportions and sublime design, of this piece, suggest its aristocratic provenance and one of France’s best furniture-makers of the day.

The top is crafted of rare and beautifully veined Sainte-Anne des Pyrénées marble, fashionable during the reign of Louis XVI and only used for the finest furniture, the true masterpieces of decorative arts, highly praised for its rare colour.

The sober and harmonious lines of this table recall the work of great cabinetmakers like Bernard Molitor, Charles-Erdmann Richter or Adam Weisweiler active in the end of the reign of Louis XVI and in the early nineteenth century.

Fine antique condition. Minor restorations. Extremely rare in this size and quality.

For a comparable though smaller less sophisticated example please see Christies, New York, 23 November 2010, Lot 216