Object Description
A Fine and Unusual Pair of Louis XVI Style Gilt-Bronze Low Side Tables With Sèvres-Style Porcelain Tops.
Each table has a fine Sèvres-style porcelain charger painted with historical battle scenes within bleu céleste borders supported on finely cast gilt-bronze tripod bases, the beaded legs headed by rams head masks and united by a circlet, terminating in acanthus and hoof feet.
The large and finely painted porcelain chargers are signed by the studio porcelain artist Leber and titled ‘Le Bataille de Denain’ (24 Julliet 1712) and ‘Entrevue du Camp du drap d’or’ (7 Juin 1520).
The Battle of Denain was fought on 24 July 1712 as part of the War of the Spanish Succession. It resulted in a French victory, under Marshal Villars, against Dutch and Austrian forces, under Prince Eugene of Savoy. The depiction by Leber is after the famous painting by Jean Alaux (1764-1894) in the Galerie des Batailles at the Palace of Versailles, exhibited at the Salon in 1839.
The Camp or Field of the Cloth of Gold is the name given to the famous diplomatic meeting which took place between King Francis I and Henry VIII of England from June 7 to 24, 1520, in the North of France, in Balinghem near of Calais. The depiction by Leber is after the painting by Auguste-Hyacinthe Debay (1804-1865), of 1837 now in the Place of Versailles.
The beauty of the tables lies principally in the finely painted scenes, which are painted with great delicacy and precision.
Each charger titled to the reverse and with spurious Sèvres marks.
French, Circa 1890.