Antique French Louis XVI Stripped Marble Top Occasional Table

Details

Description

French Louis XVI Stripped Marble Top Occasional Table presents an exceptionally graceful interpretation of the neoclassical style, combining delicate hand … Read more French Louis XVI Stripped Marble Top Occasional Table presents an exceptionally graceful interpretation of the neoclassical style, combining delicate hand carved ornamentation with light, architectural proportions and a beautifully aged stripped finish. A circular rouge marble top provides a handsome counterpoint to the pale natural tones of the base, its warm russet coloration enlivened by irregular white and lighter mineral veining that gives the stone wonderful visual depth.
The marble rests within a broad molded surround embellished with a continuous carved spiral motif, immediately drawing the eye to the remarkably detailed apron below. Delicate openwork carving creates an airy succession of scrolling foliage and stylized floral forms, punctuated above each leg by carved rosettes framed with leafy ornamentation. Four tall, slender legs descend from the apron, each designed with the architectural refinement characteristic of the Louis XVI period, including fluted shafts, carved foliate details at the shoulders, and finely turned elements toward the feet.
The legs are joined near the base by an unusually decorative X form stretcher composed of gracefully curved members with elongated openwork details, converging at the center beneath a carved and turned finial. Particularly appealing is the stripped surface, which reveals the smooth natural character of the wood while retaining subtle traces of age and patina within the recesses of the carving, bringing greater definition to the sculptural details and giving the table a relaxed yet sophisticated presence.
Elegant from every viewpoint, the table embodies the symmetry, classical vocabulary, and refined ornamentation that made the Louis XVI style one of the most enduring expressions of French decorative arts. Its petite proportions and elevated profile make it especially versatile as an occasional table beside a chair, between a pair of seats, or as a distinctive accent in an entry, bedroom, or intimate sitting area.
Circa 1890s
Measures 25.5H x 19 in diameter
Available at Inessa Stewart’s Antiques in the Dallas Design District, Dallas, Texas. See less