Lot Essay
The design of this table follows in all essentials and many details the drawing ascribed to André-Charles Boulle now in the Musée des Arts Decoratifs, Paris (illustrated below). The design was later engraved, appearing on plate 5 of Nouveaux Desseins de meubles ... inventés et gravé par André-Charles Boulle, chez Mariette entitled Grande Table.
The console tables of this model fall into two main groups. The largest group, which includes this example, is mounted with satyr's heads on the angles. Other examples include a pair in the Wallace Collection (F. J. B. Watson, Catalogue, London, 1956, F.424 and F.425), and one formerly in the collection of the Duchesse de Talleyrand, sold Sotheby's, Monaco, 14 June 1982, lot 492, and subsequently resold from the collection of Barbara Piasecka Johnson, Sotheby's, New York, 21 May 1992, lot 101. Another, formerly in the Dennery Collection, was sold in these Rooms, 14 April 1983, lot 80. The Wallace and Dennery consoles also have identical sabots to those found both on this console and on the original drawing.
The second group is distinguished by female heads in the place of the satyr masks. A pair from this group, formerly in the collection of the Earl of Harrington, was sold Sotheby's, London, 22 November 1963, lot 69.
All known examples from both groups are listed, A. Pradère, French Furniture Makers, London, 1989, p. 107. This table, which was not known to the author, is not included in the list. Most of the other examples have elaborately decorated marquetry tops which are inlaid with either the 'birdcage' or 'triumphal car' design, the engraved templates for which survive in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and are discussed and illustrated by Richard H. Randall, Jr. in 'Templates for Boulle Singerie', Burlington Magazine, September 1969, pp. 549-553. A console from the first group also with a leather top in the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum is illustrated 'Kurfürst Max Emanuel', Exhibition Catalogue, Munich, 1976, p. 179.
Consoles of this model appear quite frequently in 18th century sales. Three were included in the Julienne sale in 1767, lots 1642, 1648 and 1649; one en contrepartie, was in the Dubois sale in 1785, lot 215; another was in the Chevalier Lambert sale in 1787, lot 310.
The console tables of this model fall into two main groups. The largest group, which includes this example, is mounted with satyr's heads on the angles. Other examples include a pair in the Wallace Collection (F. J. B. Watson, Catalogue, London, 1956, F.424 and F.425), and one formerly in the collection of the Duchesse de Talleyrand, sold Sotheby's, Monaco, 14 June 1982, lot 492, and subsequently resold from the collection of Barbara Piasecka Johnson, Sotheby's, New York, 21 May 1992, lot 101. Another, formerly in the Dennery Collection, was sold in these Rooms, 14 April 1983, lot 80. The Wallace and Dennery consoles also have identical sabots to those found both on this console and on the original drawing.
The second group is distinguished by female heads in the place of the satyr masks. A pair from this group, formerly in the collection of the Earl of Harrington, was sold Sotheby's, London, 22 November 1963, lot 69.
All known examples from both groups are listed, A. Pradère, French Furniture Makers, London, 1989, p. 107. This table, which was not known to the author, is not included in the list. Most of the other examples have elaborately decorated marquetry tops which are inlaid with either the 'birdcage' or 'triumphal car' design, the engraved templates for which survive in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and are discussed and illustrated by Richard H. Randall, Jr. in 'Templates for Boulle Singerie', Burlington Magazine, September 1969, pp. 549-553. A console from the first group also with a leather top in the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum is illustrated 'Kurfürst Max Emanuel', Exhibition Catalogue, Munich, 1976, p. 179.
Consoles of this model appear quite frequently in 18th century sales. Three were included in the Julienne sale in 1767, lots 1642, 1648 and 1649; one en contrepartie, was in the Dubois sale in 1785, lot 215; another was in the Chevalier Lambert sale in 1787, lot 310.
