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Attributed to Jean-François Oeben (1760-1761)
Unstamped
Structure in oak and limewood
Marquetry in tulipwood, bloodwood, palisander, amaranth, boxwood and ebony; Gilded bronze; Japanese lacquer; velvet
Inv. Nº 579
Mechanical table with an elegant outline still pertaining to the Luis XV taste - slightly curved legs, scalloped top and harmonious and unbroken curves. The marquetry has geometrical patterns and the decorative bronze elements are sober and contained, typical of the late Louis XV style. Although smaller, this table has many similarities to another table of the same collection, stamped by Jean-François Oeben.
The table top is scalloped and has a gilded and embossed bronze trim, and the marquetry in exotic woods has geometrical motifs – trelliswork with lozenges. The tripartite front is also decorated with marquetry in the geometrical “fish scale” motif, which was one of Oeben’s favourite patterns. The elegantly curved legs are accentuated by gilded and embossed bronze mounts, in the form of old men’s heads with long beards and moustaches, starting at the top and terminating at the feet in scrolled acanthus.
Like the other mechanical table in this collection, the top slides back with the turn of a key, revealing a book rest flanked by two lidded compartments. The functionality and versatility of these pieces of furniture show both the concern for comfort and the sophistication of society at that time.
This table was in the grand salon of the Iéna Avenue mansion, in Paris.
A piece of Louis XV furniture in the Gulbenkian Collection
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