19th-C. Black Lacquer Pedestal Table w Fossil Stone Top and Gilt-Bronze Elements

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A 19th-century black lacquer pedestal table featuring a circular fossil-stone tabletop and gilt-bronze (ormolu) decorative elements.
The tabletop is composed … Read more A 19th-century black lacquer pedestal table featuring a circular fossil-stone tabletop and gilt-bronze (ormolu) decorative elements.
The tabletop is composed of black limestone with embedded marine fossils—likely Orthoceras or other Devonian cephalopods—which appear as contrasting white or grey inclusions against the dark matrix. This type of stone was prized in the 19th century for its natural ornamental patterning and was often used in luxury furniture and objets de vertu.
The table is supported by a tapered cylindrical central column, finished in a deep piano-black lacquer, resting on a tri-form base with rounded corners. The transition between the column and the base is encircled by an engine-turned gilt-bronze collar decorated with fine geometric patterns—an element suggestive of Empire or late Neoclassical influence. The ormolu retains its period tooling and appears original.
Overall, the table reflects the 19th-century fascination with natural history, combined with the refined craftsmanship and decorative vocabulary of the Empire to mid-century period. Its restrained silhouette and high-gloss lacquer finish emphasize the dramatic visual texture of the fossil stone.
31"H See less