Object Description
19th century Austrian giltwood centre table with Royal Vienna porcelain plaques
Austrian, Late 19th Century
Height 79cm, width 101cm, depth 87cm
This impressive Régence style centre table combines ornate giltwood carving with a richly decorated Royal Vienna porcelain top. Set beneath protective glass, the central plaque reproduces ‘Dancing Nymphs’ by American artist Louis Frederick Berneker (1876–1937), known for his ethereal scenes of nymphs, faeries, and angels. Here, figures in flowing drapery dance above a shimmering lake, capturing Berneker’s signature dreamlike style.
Encircling the main scene are fourteen finely painted medallions of women in classical dress, creating visual harmony and balance. A further porcelain plaque – ‘The Love Offering’ after Austrian artist Hans Zatzka (1859–1949) – adorns the table’s stretcher. Zatzka, like Berneker, was celebrated for his romantic, mythological imagery.
The table is stamped ‘FD/ Vienna/ Austria’ for Franz Dörfl and retains a retailer label for ‘Bazar Color’, Montevideo, Uruguay. The inscription ‘Fuego Fatuo’ also appears, likely added as a reference to the central plaque.
The table rests on graceful cabriole legs and features elaborate carvings that echo the refinement of the porcelain inlays.
Blending academic art with luxurious design, this is a striking example of 19th-century decorative furniture.