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Lot Essay
The winged caryatids on the present gueridons are inspired by two drawings of gueridons in the celebrated album of designs by C. Percier and P.F.L. Fontaine (see Recueil de Décorations Intérieures of 1801, pl. 23 and 33). The overall design for the table, in turn, relates to the work of Pierre-Philippe Thomire (1751-1843), perhaps the most important bronzier of the Empire period, who incorporated Percier and Fontaine's designs of winged caryatids into a range of objects from tripods to candelabra. Similar winged-female terms on supports feature on a gueridon attributed to Thomire which formed part of the collection of Barbara Piasecka Johnson, sold in Sotheby's, Paris, 15 October 2003, lot 75 (238,875 Euros).
Maxime Secrétant established his workshop at 74, rue Amelot, Paris towards the end of the 19th century, where he produced fine quality furniture in the 18th century style. For some time he worked in association with his half-brother Léon Duval, who had been an apprentice with Gervais Durand, the well known ébéniste. Due to economic pressures, Secrétant was forced to sell the contents of his workshop by auction at L'Hôtel Drouot on 26 November 1935.
Maxime Secrétant established his workshop at 74, rue Amelot, Paris towards the end of the 19th century, where he produced fine quality furniture in the 18th century style. For some time he worked in association with his half-brother Léon Duval, who had been an apprentice with Gervais Durand, the well known ébéniste. Due to economic pressures, Secrétant was forced to sell the contents of his workshop by auction at L'Hôtel Drouot on 26 November 1935.