Ceremonial Table, France circa 1880

Beautiful ceremonial table in mahogany, mahogany veneer, black stained wood and gilt bronze. The top with symmetrical decoration presents an important marquetry decoration of oak leaves, garlands and plant scrolls, embellished at the corners with fleur-de-lys, all surrounded by a frieze of acanthus leaves in gilt bronze. The belt, adorned on all sides with a gilded bronze interlacing frieze, presents at the front and at the back a radiating mask surrounded by a quiver and a torch on a central recess in black stained wood. It rests on four fluted rudent legs with asparagus tips surmounted by a capital of Ionic inspiration, ending with a sabot formed of water leaves.