Mahogany cabaret and quadrille table - La Rochelle, 18th century

Rare small table in cabaret and quadrille in solid mahogany of Saint-Domingue.
La Rochelle, 18th century.

The top is made of a single beautiful board of moiré mahogany with poly-lobed and richly molded contours typical of small boudoir tables, and reminiscent of some of the other rare small models known from La Rochelle, this small table, as charming as it is precious, is distinguished by the use of a superb mahogany from the West Indies, with a fine and compact grain, and by a very fine overall finish. Its base, punctuated with small hooves, is elegantly curved, presenting a very well done "whiplash" and finally its four belts are delicately curved.

The cabaret table is a refined piece of furniture born from the fashion of the new lounge drinks, tea, chocolate and coffee. These small tables, often precious, knew a real craze in the big ports of the Atlantic which were the importers of these drinks coming from the Americas and the East, they were in great vogue in the castles of the nobility and the private mansions of the rich merchants, before being fashionable in Paris where were created by the greatest cabinetmakers (Carlin - RVLC. ...) of extraordinary small cabarets in the most luxurious materials such as the oriental and European lacquers or the porcelain of Vincennes - Sèvres.

The game of Quadrille is a card game by tricks, born in France and adapted from the hombre (game of Spanish origin appeared at the beginning of the XVIIth century which is played with three), just like this last one it is played with 40 cards but requires this time four participants. It is in the XVIIIth century that it makes its appearance in France and very quickly it becomes extremely in vogue there, in the living rooms and the boudoirs, particularly appreciated by the women. The quadrille is so fashionable that treatises are written about it and that cabinetmakers make tables for it and table makers make small boxes in marquetry, engraved ivory, Chinese lacquer, to store cards and chips.

Superb original condition and very well polished, finished in filled wax.
La Rochelle - mid 18th century.