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Lot Essay
The imposing à l'antique form of this side table, with its relief tablets of classical scenes, including Diana and Acteon, flanked by guardian griffins, relates it to a celebrated series of tables with frames carved by Antonio Landucci, supplied to Principe Don Marcantonio Borghese in the 1770's as part of his lavish refurbishment of the Palazzo Borghese under the supervisison of the architect Antonio Asprucci.
A magnificent pair of side tables from this commission (sold Christie's London, 5 July 2001, lot 50) share the same overall design of central tablet flanked by scrolling foliage on tapering turned legs headed with acanthus and joined by elaborate stretchers. The ultimate design source for this group is most probably the designer Giovanni Battista Piranesi, who was hugely influential in promoting the tremendous revival of interest in classical antiquity of this period. Piranesi's Diversi Manieri d'Adornare Cammini of 1769 illustrates fireplaces with similar tablet friezes.
A magnificent pair of side tables from this commission (sold Christie's London, 5 July 2001, lot 50) share the same overall design of central tablet flanked by scrolling foliage on tapering turned legs headed with acanthus and joined by elaborate stretchers. The ultimate design source for this group is most probably the designer Giovanni Battista Piranesi, who was hugely influential in promoting the tremendous revival of interest in classical antiquity of this period. Piranesi's Diversi Manieri d'Adornare Cammini of 1769 illustrates fireplaces with similar tablet friezes.