VIENNA, EARLY 19TH CENTURY

With his finely carved satyr supports and the penwork engravings this table belongs is an example of the best furniture made in Vienna during the early 19th century. Whilst there are strong parallels to the international Empire style this group shows such strong characteristics that it is immediately identifieable as Viennese. One of the defining characteristics of this style is the strong emphasis on carved wood ornament , ususally applied to key elements such as the legs of tables or consoles and large ornaments on secretaires. These were subsequently decorated to simulate patinated and gilt bronze thereby being able to realise a much bolder and larger ornament at a much lower cost then when using bronze. As secondary ornamentation the use of pen-engraved marquetry inlays is typical, another way of achieving a convincing 'bronze' look was by using pewter and lead ornamental strips over a wood surface and then gilding it - as is the case with the vase finial on the present lot. These 'Ersatz' techniques, substituting bronze ornaments with carved wooden ornament and pewter decorations or marquetry with penwork is typical of Viennese pieces of this period. These innovative new techniques allowed the cabinet-maker to create luxury furniture for a larger clientele whilst maintaining a high level of quality. The client could choose from a basic model onto which could be added a variety of decorative schemes. The present table is an example which has been adorned with a maximum of ornament. A related table of the same design, but with winged monopodia is shown in R. Haaff, Biedermeier Möbel, 2006, Germersheim, pl. 934.