Important Regency period console table in carved and gilded wood

Ile de France, circa 1720
Carved and gilded linden wood

Dimensions: H. 83cm x W. 148cm x D. 64cm

This type of console table from the first quarter of the 18th century, made of gilded wood and topped with marble, is commonly called a "Table à Gibier" . They appeared as early as the reign of Louis XIV, in natural oak or gilded wood.

Our console, made of carved linden wood, was made a few years after the end of the reign of Louis XIV; it retains a beautiful X-shaped stretcher, composed of leafy scrolls and a flowered top in its center. Like the stretcher, the aprons are carved on still very straight planes, but punctuated by pronounced cutouts. Some openwork is already present. The uprights that form the legs are powerfully balanced. The beauty of this console table lies in an absolutely perfect balance of curves and volumes.

The carving was executed with skill; The perfectly symmetrical ornamentation is proportionate to the volumes, leaving clean lines that further highlight the quality of the craftsmanship. A large portion of the console features a grid pattern, each section different. The brilliance of the gilding is achieved through the subtle interplay of matte and burnished areas, whether on the frieze, the uprights, or the stretcher.

At the center of the facade, a large and magnificent cartouche cleverly occupies the space and presents a smiling face. The entire ornamentation is the work of a master sculptor of the highest caliber. The design is perfectly executed, the carving refined yet vigorous.

The console is topped with a beautiful Italian marble, pink in color and veined with white. The substantial thickness of the marble is proportionate to the console's large dimensions. This piece is in excellent condition, with all its original elements intact. The gilding has, of course, been restored according to custom, but it is largely original. This work was carried out by one of the finest gilders in Paris.