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Lot Essay
This exuberantly carved console relates to a table pattern invented by the carver/sculptor Jean Bernard Tureau, called Toro (d. 1731) and issued in Livres de Tables de Diverses Formes, 1716, published under the auspices of the court architect Charles-Nicolas-Lepas-Dubuisson, and illustrated here. A celebrated sculptor born in Toulon, his oeuvre is stylistically characterized by a great sense of original inspiration and fine quality of carving. A favored motif which appears repeatedly in numerous variations is that of entwined dragons, such as those found on the present lot.
Another possible design source is an engraving of a console with entwined dragons by the sculptor and designer Nicolas Pineau (1684-1754) from his Nouveaux desseins de Pieds de table, de Vases et de Consoles, de sculpture en bois, inv. par le Sr. Pineau, which was published by Mariette in Paris circa 1734. (P. Verlet Les ébénistes du XVIIIe Siècle Français, Paris, 1963, p. 54, fig. 11).
The overall form of this console is highly similar to a pair of consoles with dragon-headed supports and pierced shell stretcher in the Wrightsman Collection, illustrated in The Wrightsman Collection, Vol I, New York, 1966, pl. 81, p. 121. Another comparable console with similarly pierced stretcher and dragon-entwined legs sold from the Collection of Dr. Anton C.R. Dreesman, Christie's London, 10 April 2002, lot 245. A further related console with dragon supports and with dolphin carving (however to the stretcher) sold anonymously in these Rooms, 17 October 2002, lot 20.
Another possible design source is an engraving of a console with entwined dragons by the sculptor and designer Nicolas Pineau (1684-1754) from his Nouveaux desseins de Pieds de table, de Vases et de Consoles, de sculpture en bois, inv. par le Sr. Pineau, which was published by Mariette in Paris circa 1734. (P. Verlet Les ébénistes du XVIIIe Siècle Français, Paris, 1963, p. 54, fig. 11).
The overall form of this console is highly similar to a pair of consoles with dragon-headed supports and pierced shell stretcher in the Wrightsman Collection, illustrated in The Wrightsman Collection, Vol I, New York, 1966, pl. 81, p. 121. Another comparable console with similarly pierced stretcher and dragon-entwined legs sold from the Collection of Dr. Anton C.R. Dreesman, Christie's London, 10 April 2002, lot 245. A further related console with dragon supports and with dolphin carving (however to the stretcher) sold anonymously in these Rooms, 17 October 2002, lot 20.