Object Description
A Fine and Rare Louis XV Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Marquetry Occasional Table. By Emmanuel Alfred (dit Alfred II) Beurdeley. Paris. France, Circa 1885.
The top with marquetry of precious fruitwoods and rare timbers depicting a central cartouche of two monkeys standing in a classical landscape, dressed as men playing a drum and a tambourine. The surrounding marquetry composed of rocaille framed trellis parquetry panels with musical attributes. The shaped top surrounded by a three-quarter gilt-bronze gallery. The top slides back and the drawer opens to reveal a writing tray. The serpentine sides with cartouches with flower-filled marquetry. On cabriole legs headed by gilt-bronze rocaille clasps.
Beautifully rendered by Beurdeley this ‘table Singeries’ is ennobled with the fullest frivolity of the rococo. The marquetry scene on the top derives from engravings published in Paris in the mid-eighteenth century entitled ‘Le Tambour de Basque’ and ‘Le Tambourin’ by J. Guelard after designs by Christophe Huet (died 1759) from a series entitled ‘Singeries ou Différentes Actions de la Vie Humaine Representées par des Singes’. The present writing table is almost identical to an 18th century table in the James A. de Rothschild collection at Waddesdon Manor (inv. 3472) which was purchased by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild at the legendary auction of Prince Demidov’s Florentine Palazzo San Donato in 1880 (Lot 1554 — Très jolie table a ouvrage en marqueterie de bois colorés du temps de Louis XV, avec motif principal reproduisant deux gravures de Huet: le Singe musicien et le Singe danseur. Elle est de forme très gracieuse et ornée de bronzes dorés et d’une galerie ajourée).
It is possible that Alfred Beurdeley admired the Demidov table at the 1880 San Donato sale and it inspired him to develop the present model. Beurdeley is recorded to have made this model of table more than once, although fewer than four examples are known.
Stamped ‘A. BEURDELEY A PARIS’.
France, Circa 1885.