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Lot Essay
Roger Van Der Cruse, called Lacroix, maître in 1755.
This elegant table by the Flemish-born cabinet-maker Roger Van Der Cruse, called Lacroix, appears to be of a unique form, whose exact function remains unclear. The metal liner of the upper tier would suggest a use as a jardinière or rafraichissoir, but the fact that its immediate surround is veneered in the same sinuous bois de bout marquetry as the lower tier would make the use of water unlikely. The three slides in the frieze, which are dished as if for playing counters (rather than for candles), may suggest the table's use was for gaming, although again its small size perhaps precludes this possibility. What is likely is that its elegance of form makes it ideal for use in an intimate setting such as a lady's boudoir, and it may well have served several uses.
The uniqueness of the table's design makes it probable that it was a special commission, perhaps from a marchand mercier, particularly in light of Lacroix's well-recorded work for the celebrated Simon-Philippe Poirier, for whom he supplied a number of porcelain-mounted pieces. Poirier's inscription can be found on the superb marquetry bureau de dame by Lacroix in the Dreesmann collection.
This elegant table by the Flemish-born cabinet-maker Roger Van Der Cruse, called Lacroix, appears to be of a unique form, whose exact function remains unclear. The metal liner of the upper tier would suggest a use as a jardinière or rafraichissoir, but the fact that its immediate surround is veneered in the same sinuous bois de bout marquetry as the lower tier would make the use of water unlikely. The three slides in the frieze, which are dished as if for playing counters (rather than for candles), may suggest the table's use was for gaming, although again its small size perhaps precludes this possibility. What is likely is that its elegance of form makes it ideal for use in an intimate setting such as a lady's boudoir, and it may well have served several uses.
The uniqueness of the table's design makes it probable that it was a special commission, perhaps from a marchand mercier, particularly in light of Lacroix's well-recorded work for the celebrated Simon-Philippe Poirier, for whom he supplied a number of porcelain-mounted pieces. Poirier's inscription can be found on the superb marquetry bureau de dame by Lacroix in the Dreesmann collection.