POSSIBLY RUSSIAN

Details

A LOUIS XVI GILTWOOD SIDE TABLE
Possibly Russian
The rectangular eared Bohemian Breccia marble top with moulded edge above an egg-and-dart carved cornice and a scrolling acanthus-pierced carved frieze with floral swags suspended below on fluted turned tapering legs, joined by shaped X-stretchers with a central urn-shaped vase issuing a flower bouquet and with suspended floral garlands to either side, on turned tapering feet, minor replacements to carving, especially to frieze, the garlands at top of legs replaced, the base supports of stretchers replaced
35½ in. (90 cm.) high; 52½ in. (133 cm.) wide; 26½ in. (67.5 cm.) deep

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

The unusual construction of this table, which is richly carved with fruit and floral garlands, points to an origin outside France. The Italianate nature of the design, with the vase-centred stretcher which features on Turinese tables of the 1780's, could indicate a Russian origin, where it is well recorded that a large number of Italian architects and craftsman were active in the latter part of the 18th century. Related tables in the Greek Gallery at Gachina Palace (which was remodelled by the Italian-born architect Vincenzo Brenna in the 1790's) are illustrated in E. Ducamp ed., Gachina Palace, Paris, 1992, pp. 60-1, fig. 22. Another Russian table with vase-centred stretcher from one of the palaces at Tsarsköe Selo is illustrated in G. Loukomski, The Imperial Palaces of Tsarsköe Selo: Furniture and Interiors, London, 1987, p. 58.

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