Lot Essay
Charles Topino, maître in 1773
Charles Topino, of the rue du Faubourg-Saint-Antoine, specialised in light furniture enriched with marquetry, either of flowers or 'naif' still-lifes. He was employed as a specialist marqueteur by the most celebrated marchand-merciers and marchand-ébénistes including Héricourt, Dautriche, Migcon, Denizot, Moreau, Delorme, Tuart and Boudin. Interestingly, it is documented that his characteristic bronze doré, cast by Viret, were chased by Chamboin and Dubuisson, and gilded by Bécard, Gerard and Vallet. Topino's reputation was held in sufficient regard that in 1782 he was elected the deputy of his guild
There are several tables of this model by Topino. Three closely related tables are illustrated in Jean Nicolay, L'Art et la Manière des Maître Ebénistes Français au XVIIIe Siècle, Paris, 1956, p.461, figs J,K and L. A further example is illustrated in P. Kjellberg, Le Mobilier Français du XVIIIe Siècle, Paris, 1989, p. 845, fig B. A closely related table with similar mounts, stamped by Francois Rubestuck, was sold anonymously at Sotheby's London, 17 May 1968, lot 57
Charles Topino, of the rue du Faubourg-Saint-Antoine, specialised in light furniture enriched with marquetry, either of flowers or 'naif' still-lifes. He was employed as a specialist marqueteur by the most celebrated marchand-merciers and marchand-ébénistes including Héricourt, Dautriche, Migcon, Denizot, Moreau, Delorme, Tuart and Boudin. Interestingly, it is documented that his characteristic bronze doré, cast by Viret, were chased by Chamboin and Dubuisson, and gilded by Bécard, Gerard and Vallet. Topino's reputation was held in sufficient regard that in 1782 he was elected the deputy of his guild
There are several tables of this model by Topino. Three closely related tables are illustrated in Jean Nicolay, L'Art et la Manière des Maître Ebénistes Français au XVIIIe Siècle, Paris, 1956, p.461, figs J,K and L. A further example is illustrated in P. Kjellberg, Le Mobilier Français du XVIIIe Siècle, Paris, 1989, p. 845, fig B. A closely related table with similar mounts, stamped by Francois Rubestuck, was sold anonymously at Sotheby's London, 17 May 1968, lot 57