Neoclassical table stamped Roussel

Paris circa 1780
Hauteur 67.5 cm Largeur 60 cm Profondeur 41 cm

This small side table was made during the Louis XVI period by Pierre Roussel. It perfectly illustrates the return to classicism with the reuse of antique motifs and is a fine example of the refinement that French furniture achieved in the second half of the 18th century.

During the reign of Louis XVI, a large quantity of furniture was produced in Paris with the arrival of a new clientele of notables who wished to acquire furniture in the style of that owned by the aristocracy. Thus, there is a profusion of chests of drawers, desks, and various other pieces of furniture from the Louis XVI period. But during this period of intense production, a few master cabinetmakers continued to create exceptional works of art, primarily decorative, for wealthy patrons. The return to clean lines and straight shapes can sometimes mask variations in quality. To avoid this, one must pay close attention to the details of execution, the choice of materials, the precision of the joinery and marquetry, and the quality of the bronze ornamentation.

Pierre Roussel, a master craftsman in 1745, is one of the finest marquetry artists of the 18th century. While his creations were less original than those of BVRB, Dubois, or RVLC, Pierre Roussel produced exquisitely crafted furniture that built his reputation and brought him the most illustrious clients. He worked for Pierre Migeon but also supplied the Prince of Condé directly, notably for the Château de Chantilly and the Palais Bourbon. Works by Pierre Roussel can be found at the Carnavalet Museum, the Jacquemart-André Museum, the Louvre, the Petit Palais, and elsewhere.

This small side table opens to reveal a long drawer and features a leather-covered pull-out slide along its length. Its writing and storage functions being rather secondary, this type of table was generally intended for a living room or boudoir, to serve as a light source. Rectangular in shape, it rests on square, tapered legs. The apparent simplicity will not deceive connoisseurs with its elegance and precision: the top is finely inlaid with amaranth and rosewood, framed by a refined gilt-bronze molding. Crafted from the same precious woods, the apron and legs are adorned with projecting panels, giving this table a very chic look. The bronze mounts, small and few in number, are anything but simple; the sculpted rings, the elongated and structured sabots that echo the shape of the legs, and the highly original keyhole escutcheon are all perfectly chased and gilded.

This table is in excellent condition, without any alterations or replacements. Only the leather had to be changed, the table having been restored very recently according to the rules of the art.