A Louis XVI Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Marquetry Centre Table By Emmanuel-Alfred (Dit Alfred II) Beurdeley

A Louis XVI Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Marquetry Centre Table.

By Emmanuel-Alfred (Dit Alfred II) Beurdeley, After The Model By Jean-Henri Riesener.

Stamped ‘A BEURDELEY A PARIS’.

The elaborate marquetry top depicts an allegory of Astronomy and Geometry, personified by the Muses Urania and Calliope holding a telescope and a pair of compasses, sitting beside an armillary sphere. The border is richly veneered with paterae and acanthus scrollwork. The frieze has charmingly detailed marquetry panels with putti playing with scientific instruments. The front with a frieze three-quarter draw and quarter secret sprung drawer. The octagonal tapering legs with acanthus cast sabots.

This table by Beurdeley is a superb replica of the famous royal example supplied by Jean-Henri Riesener in 1771 for Louis XVI and now on display at the Petit Trianon at Versailles. At the exhibition of the Union centrale des Beaux-Arts appliqués à l'Industrie in Paris in 1880 Beurdeley fils exhibited about fifteen reproductions of famous works of the eighteenth century including an example of the “Table des Muses". A table of this model was also shown at the l’Exposition retrospective in 1882 and is visible in a photograph reproduced in C. Mestdagh, op. cit., p. 80 fig. 76. The model of table was reproduced in the late 19th and early 20th century in varying degrees of quality. After Beurdeley, François Linke is the maker of note for this model, but the quality of Beurdeley’s work, especially the marquetry panel is superior.

France. Circa 1880.

Dimensions

Price on application

This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

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