Offered by Franck Baptiste Paris
Precious little rectangular table in marquetry with floral decorations on all sides.
It rests on a lyre-shaped base in solid rosewood with a small shelf of struts with a bowl. The upper part of rectangular shape is decorated with Greek reserves consisting of polychrome foliage scrolls on a maple background. The flap is centered with the initials "LD" in a medallion decorated with ribbon bows and a pair of doves symbolizing love. An ingenious mechanism hidden in the lock's hook reveals a secret compartment lined with blue silk. The interior of the table consists of three curtained compartments delicately decorated with a bouquet of flowers and music trophies in medallions.
The decoration with subtle polychrome tints in marquetry of boxwood, rosewood, maple, is finely engraved on a tobacco background in sycamore.
The curtains reveal three compartments in solid mahogany, the central compartment is removable while the right compartment conceals two tabs that release two small secret side drawers. A third side drawer is located on the left side.
Very good condition.
Stamped " JME " and " J.L Cosson "*.
Parisian work of the Louis the XVIth period, around 1780.
Dimension :
Length : 36cm ; depth : 22.5cm ; height : 71.5cm.
Reproduced in Jean Nicolay’s book, "Art and the cabinetmakers’ way in the XVIIIth century " ("L'art et la manière des maîtres ébénistes français au XVIIIème siècle"), Paris, 1956.
Our opinion :
The work table that we present is a fine example of the dexterity and ingenuity of French cabinetmakers of the 18th century. Airy and light, while remaining very practical thanks to its multiple storage spaces, it is almost the work of a table maker, both in the preciousness of its woods, with the rare uses of solid rosewood and solid mahogany drawer interiors, only by a very fine assembly, with miniature dovetails.
It constitutes in our eyes the masterpiece of Cosson, and was probably to adorn the living room of an important member of the Parisian nobility.
*Received as a master in 1765, Jacques-Laurent Cosson (1737 - April 4th, 1812) established his workshop in the rue de Charonne, under the sign of "Louis XIV ou du Grand Monarque". Of great reputation, he worked for various merchants such as Moreau and Migeon, and for a significant number of renowned upholsterers. He provided them with small furniture executed with elegance, sobriety, most of them in the Louis the XVIth style. Cosson was also a skilled marker. He harmonized, with taste, the colors of mahogany veneer, rosewood or violet wood that he decorated with geometric patterns or flowers and vases of flowers, as well as ivory figures.
