Neoclassical gilded wood console table

French work, last quarter of the 18th century
Lime wood carved and gilded with leaf
Veined pink marble, Italy

Height 89.5cm Width 145cm Depth 66cm

This rectangular console table is made of finely carved and gilded limewood. It is an important piece in the great French classical tradition of the late 18th century, with a return to straight lines, symmetry and the use of antique repertoire. Its large dimensions are consistent with a highly elaborate sculpture, a meticulous model and perfect balance. The client also wanted an exceptional marble from Italy, to break away from the cheap white or grey Saint Anne marbles of the period. This superb pink marble with yellow veining is infinitely rarer than the Aleppo breccias, which were so highly prized by important clients. It has been cleverly cut in the Italian style, with no molding or grooves; this straight cut is perfectly suited to the console's clean lines and absence of braces.

The console is mounted on four strong uprights that form the legs. Their large cross-section enabled the carpenter to create squared-off feet, and much more varied carving on the feet than the usual fluting: the fluting is in fact rudented and framed at the top by powerful rings adorned with friezes and pearls, and at the bottom by laurel leaves set on a ball. As for the belt, it is adorned with an openwork frieze and trimmed in its center with a wreath of laurel leaves joined by a ribbon.

The skilful design of this console, which alternates large sections with large openwork areas, gives an impression of power and lightness at the same time. The absence of braces adds to the modernity of its line.

This console is in an excellent state of preservation, having retained almost all its carving and much of its beautiful gilded leaf. It has been restored by the finest craftsmen to straighten the legs, which have been out of alignment for 250 years, and to restore any damage to the gilding.