Antique Louis XVI Style Bedside Tables in Oak and Marble, 1920, Set of 2

Details

Description

A rare pair of bedside tables in the classical design language of the louis xvi style, dating stylistically to around … Read more A rare pair of bedside tables in the classical design language of the louis xvi style, dating stylistically to around 1920. The combination of fluted spindle legs, an oval medallion in the door panel and black-outlined thread inlay creates a stylish overall effect with a strong vertical emphasis. Historical context the bedside table, as a standalone piece of bedroom furniture, was an integral part of the middle-class bedroom in the early 20th century. The enclosed lower compartment was originally intended to hold a chamber pot; the white enamelled porcelain insert in the base cabinet attests to this original use. Marble tops served not only a decorative but also a hygienic function: the smooth, moisture-resistant surface was easy to clean. In the 1920s, furniture production in classical styles continued in many places – particularly in france and belgium, where the louis xvi style was carried on as a tradition of craftsmanship, even as new design trends took hold elsewhere. The pair format was the norm in the stately bedrooms of the time and reflects a deliberately symmetrical interior design.

features:
– white enamelled porcelain inlay in the base cabinet, structurally preserved in its original state
– symmetrically crafted pair with identical marble tops in a pink-salmon hue
– rare as a pair of bedside tables, in original condition with fine details and fittings

design:
the pieces follow the design language of louis xvi historicism, as was widespread in european furniture production during the wilhelminian era and the turn of the century. Characteristic features include the fluted, tapered round legs, the oval medallion panel on the door front, framed by black thread inlay with curved corner indentations, and the continuous beaded moulding around the base. The gilded bronze fittings – a floral door knob on a cartouche plate and a small drawer knob in the same style – conform to the classical ornamental canon of this stylistic period. The overall proportions are vertically emphasised; the structure and the shape of the fittings are in design harmony.

function:
formerly: bedroom sideboard with a closed base cabinet for holding a chamber pot (original porcelain insert) and a drawer for personal items. Today: can be used as a bedside table; also suitable as a side table, shelf or decorative storage unit.

dimensions:
height 80 cm × width 49 cm × depth 39 cm (each piece) material and condition solid oak; marble top in a pink-salmon hue with dark veining; gilded bronze fittings, original; porcelain insert present in the base cabinet. Condition: very well preserved with few age-appropriate signs of wear See less