Pair, Monumental Neoclassical Carved, Mirrored Back & Marble Top Console Tables

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Description

This superb matched pair of Neoclassical or American Empire Style console tables exemplifies the refined neoclassicism after New York's leading … Read more This superb matched pair of Neoclassical or American Empire Style console tables exemplifies the refined neoclassicism after New York's leading cabinetmakers in the early nineteenth century. Styled after the important firm of Duncan Phyfe or a contemporary of similar prominence—such as Michael Allison or Charles-Honoré Lannuier—these substantial tables display the impeccable proportions, meticulous carving, and sophisticated materials associated with premier Empire craftsmanship.

Each table is crafted from richly figured mahogany, exhibiting deep color and a polished finish that enhances the wood’s natural luster. They are topped by robust slabs of dark fossilized marble, providing an elegant and durable surface. Note** The tops under the marble are finished mahogany and can be used without the marble tops. **

Below, the rectangular frames are supported at the front by bold pilasters with superbly articulated reeded shafts terminating in finely sculpted lion’s paw feet—hallmarks of Phyfe’s style during the pinnacle of his Empire production.

Behind the reeded pilasters, mirrored panels (some replaced) are mounted in classical rectangular grids with decorative circular mirror rosettes at intersections, offering reflective depth and luminosity. These mirrored backs are composed of fine panels exhibiting beautifully age-distressed silvering, further indicating authenticity and period character. The mirrors’ panel-and-rosette composition directly references early 19th-century French-inspired taste, popularized in America by imported design books and émigré craftsmen active in New York City.

Both tables retain original backboards and interior framing techniques typical of high-end New York cabinetry, including substantial mortise-and-tenon joinery and detailed secondary woodwork. While unsigned, the exceptional quality, precise classical detailing, distinctive paw feet, and overall refinement strongly suggest an important firm or a closely related top-tier cabinetmaking shop.

These pier console tables represent the height of New York cabinetmaking during the American Classical era. Originally intended to anchor grand reception halls or elegant drawing rooms, their impressive scale, neoclassical gravitas, and dramatic mirrored surfaces embodied the refinement and optimism of the early Republic. Today, as museum-quality examples of American Empire furnishings, they exemplify a pinnacle of early American decorative arts history.

Measures:
Height - 37.5"
Width - 6' 8"
Depth - 19.5" See less