Object Description
An Ingenious Mechanical Table ‘à la Bourgogne’
In the manner of Oeben
Constructed in kingwood, tulipwood, amaranth, and specimen woods, with finely cast gilt bronze mounts, the table inlaid with architectural marquetry and of undulating bombé shape, rising from foliate sabot-shod cabriole legs, adorned with pierced gilt bronze espagnolettes. The shaped apron, of serpentine form, decorated with marquetry of floral motifs and trophies of the arts and sciences. The masterful hinged marquetry platform top inlaid with a stylised naturalistic panorama with architectural capriccios and martial trophies. When opened, the front half shows two small hinged side panels revealing blue velvet-lined interiors and a central spring-loaded compartment released and raised by two push buttons, containing eight small drawers. The rear half features a raised and spring-loaded section, containing six drawers, four of which open with a push button under the top. Finally, there are two secret drawers hidden in a false bottom of this superstructure and an openwork pull-out writing slide of bois satiné.
French, circa 1880
This magnificent table is based on the celebrated table à la Bourgogne by Jean-Francois Oeben in Madame de Pompadour’s bedroom in Versailles.
Although unsigned, the present table has all the hallmarks of the finest Parisian cabinetwork of the last quarter of the 19th century, and was likely produced by a leading workshop such as those of Paul Sormani or Alfred Beurdeley.