19th Century Napoleon III Trompe Loeil Book Side Table in Wood and Inlaid, France, 1890s

Details

Description

Model: side table
style: napoleon iii
materials: wood, inlay
period: late 19th century
country of origin: france
provenance: private collection
… Read more Model: side table
style: napoleon iii
materials: wood, inlay
period: late 19th century
country of origin: france
provenance: private collection
good condition commensurate with age and use
dimensions: 73 x 37.5 x 28.5 cm

a delightful wooden side table with inlay and trompe-l'oeil book decoration on the lower drawer, in the napoleon iii style.
the tabletop features an excellent inlay figure with floral motifs, bordered on all edges except the front by a low border. The piece features an elegant structure with curved lines and cabriole legs, characteristic of the historicist and eclectic taste of the napoleon iii style.
it features a discreet upper drawer and a small lower compartment with folding doors, reinforcing its functional value without sacrificing formal harmony. The front of these folding doors is decorated with a highly visually ingenious trompe l'oeil: a panel simulating a shelf of leather-bound books, a decorative device highly prized by the bourgeoisie of the period, who sought to combine functionality and aesthetic sophistication in domestic interiors. This faux livre effect gives it an intellectual yet playful character, in line with the cabinet furniture typical of the french second empire. See less