A pair of polished steel and banded alabaster gueridons

A pair of polished steel side tables, supported by a base with three curved uprights finished with gilded bronze motifs and joined by a Y-shaped stretcher centred by a chased and gilt-bronze vase.
First half 19th century

In France, furniture made from steel became very popular at the end of the Ancien Régime, for technical, hygienic, and functional reasons. In the 19th century, it was prized not only by officers and travellers, but also for aesthetic reasons linked to the martial tendency prevailing since the Revolution, and was not limited to the practical furniture used during travel. In documents from the period, the cold, hard sheen of steel or polished iron is compared to the fighting mentality of the good "citizen". The clean, minimalist lines of this furniture found a resounding echo and became sought-after for furnishings and interior design.

Literature :
U. Leben, "L'art du mobilier et de objets en fer et acier polis", Connaissance des Arts, n°520, sept. 1995.
A. Renner, Le mobilier de métal de l'Ancien Régime à la Restauration, Paris, 2009.