Empire mahogany console table

Empire Mahogany Console Table with Patinated Bronze Zephyr Heads, Early 19th Century
Important rectangular console in mahogany and mahogany veneer, decorated with black-patinated bronze heads of Zephyr. It rests on two tapering front supports encircled with bronze rings and adorned at the top with finely chased bronze heads. The rear supports, treated as pilasters, are joined by a stretcher shelf, giving the piece a strong architectural presence characteristic of Empire furniture.

Structure and materials
The console is built on an oak framework veneered with high-quality Cuban mahogany, whose dense and regular grain reflects the careful selection of materials typical of the finest productions of the early 19th century.

Bronze mounts
The bronzes are of remarkable quality, distinguished by the finesse of their chasing and the elegance of their patina. The Zephyr heads, precisely modeled and expressive, reveal workshop craftsmanship of the highest level, comparable to the finest Parisian Empire productions.

Top
The molded white marble top is of generous thickness and displays an attractive old patina. It shows slight marks of use consistent with age, without affecting its stability or the overall aesthetic balance.

Market reference
For comparison, a pair of closely related consoles was sold at auction during the sale
“Orangerie de Cheverny – 20th Year – Fine Furnishings,”
Sunday, June 8, 2008.

These two consoles, signed and attributed to the workshops of Jacob-Desmalter (active 1796–1835), displayed architecture, composition, and bronze decoration very similar to the present example.

Although unsigned, the console presented here stands out for the exceptional quality of its construction, the use of first-choice Cuban mahogany, and the refinement of its bronzes, placing it within the sphere of major Empire productions of the early 19th century.

Historical context and comparisons
The console fully reflects the production of its time, marked by the Greco-Egyptian influence developed during the Consulate period. Its ornamental vocabulary may be compared with that of a pair of mahogany jardinière consoles preserved at the Musée national du Château de Fontainebleau (inv. F 684 C), which also feature columnar supports and winged bust decoration.

These jardinière consoles came from the residence of General Moreau, rue d’Anjou in Paris, where they were placed in his wife’s bedroom before being installed at the Palace of Fontainebleau in November 1804. Originally fitted with mirrored backs, replaced in the second half of the 19th century, they do not bear the Jacob brothers’ stamp. However, as Denise Ledoux-Lebard notes (Les ébénistes du XIXe siècle, p. 295), they are very likely products of their workshop.

In this context, the console presented here, through the quality of its structure, the nobility of its materials, and the excellence of its bronzes, naturally belongs to this corpus and supports the hypothesis of a production from the same Parisian workshop circles. It is not impossible that these different pieces originally formed a coherent ensemble, later dispersed following the confiscation of General Moreau’s furnishings by Bonaparte.

Dimensions:
Height: 86 cm
Width: 113 cm
Depth: 48 cm

Condition:
– Antique marble with light signs of age
– Very fine overall presentation