Louis XV Style Wood Marquetry Table attr. to G. Durand, France circa 1880

A very fine Louis XV style rectangular table, made in Satinwood, Tulipwood and Kingwood. Raised on four cabriole legs, each surmounted by a gilt-bronze mount and ending on cast feet. Surmounted by a serpentine-shaped top inlaid with an elegant stylized flower and palmet motif marquetry. The frieze, containing a long drawer, allover decorated with a fine « end-cut » floral parquetry, characteristic of Durand’s work (in D. Ledoux-Lebard. Les ébénistes du XIXe siècle, Paris, 1984, p°183).

Biography :
Gervais Durand (1839-1920) participated in the 1889 Universal Exhibition where he was awarded a silver medal. A. Picard’s exhibition report stated that, « Mr Durand, cabinet-maker, as skillful as modest, displays for the first time very fine furniture, which has been designed and made by him. He is walking in the footsteps of giants such as Beurdeley and Dasson ». Durand made almost exclusively reproductions of 18th Century masterpieces, among which, those made by the most famous Parisian cabinet-maker, supplier of the Royal family : B.V.R.B. His works reveal in all points the great harmony between the forms, marquetry decoration and bronzes.