Louis Philippe Bedside Table with Marble Top, France, 1870

Details

Description

A French bedside table (chevet) in the Louis-Philippe style, made around 1870. The tall rectangular form with chamfered corner pilasters, … Read more A French bedside table (chevet) in the Louis-Philippe style, made around 1870. The tall rectangular form with chamfered corner pilasters, rounded base, and dark marble top appears clearly proportioned and aesthetically unified, as ornamentation was omitted in favor of the veneer's flat surface. Historical Context: The bedside table emerged in the 19th century as a distinct type of furniture for the bourgeois bedroom. It stood in pairs or individually beside the bed and held items necessary for nighttime needs: a candlestick, a carafe, reading material, and—in the closed lower section—the chamber pot. The marble top was not merely a decorative element, but a functional solution to moisture, candle wax, and the need for cleaning. In France, such chevets were produced in large numbers from the mid-19th century onward by furniture workshops that manufactured veneered mass-produced furniture for urban households. The narrow footprint and the casters on the base indicate bedrooms where furniture needed to remain mobile. Features: The burl veneer on the door and drawer fronts is mirrored, creating a symmetrical appearance across the closed front. The base is fitted with small brass casters; the interior contains a recessed shelf. Design: The design follows the French Louis-Philippe canon of forms, which, from the 1830s onward, represented the linear, surface-oriented successor to the Empire style and continued into the Second Empire period. Characteristic features include the block-like, tall rectangular structure, the chamfered and fluted corner pilasters as the only vertical articulation, and the rounded, projecting base. Ornamentation is entirely absent; the design effect arises solely from proportion, edge definition, and the grain of the veneer. The dark stone top provides a calm finish and visually separates the cabinet from the surface it rests on. Function: Originally used as a shelf for candlesticks, a decanter, and personal items; the closed lower section served to store chamber pots. Today: Used as a bedside table, side table, telephone table, or narrow storage unit in the hallway; the drawer and cabinet compartment offer storage space for small items. Dimensions: Height 74 cm × Width 40 cm × Depth 31 cm. Material and condition: Wooden body, front and sides covered with a lively grained veneer, drawer interior made of light wood. Dark marble top with white veining. Turned knobs on the drawer and door, small brass casters on the base. Used condition, preserved commensurate with age. Drawer and door are functional, the piece stands securely.
Up to 250V (Europe/UK Standard).The wiring of this item may be original and might need replacement, if not specified otherwise. See less