THE CONSOLES 19TH CENTURY, THE MARBLE TOPS MID-18TH CENTURY, POSSIBLY BRECCIA DI SERRAVEZZA

These spectacular console tables are surmounted by superb Roman marble tops of richly mottled purple and white veining, possibly Breccia di Serravezza, and which were most likely cut from ancient marbles. The tops are edged with richly cast gilt-bronze mouldings, a distinctive characteristic of Roman work. A number of pieces, both consoles and commodes, with marble tops edged with similar gilt-bronze mouldings, are illustrated in A. González-Palacios ed., Fasto Romano, Rome, 1991, pp. 176-7, cats. 117-119 and p. 180, cats. 124-125. A further pair of gilt-bronze mounted Roman marble tops of diaspro rosso, surmounting Louis XV consoles, was sold from the estate of Joanne Toor Cummings, Christie's, New York, 21 May 1996, lot 223.

The consoles are loosely based on a series of designs for consoles by François Roumier (1701-1748), who was appointed sculpteur ordinair du roi in 1721 and worked extensively for the court at Versailles (see B. Pons, De Paris à Versailles, 1699-1736, Paris, 1983, figs. 506-512).