A Louis XVI Style Writing Table By Lexcellent of Paris

A Louis XVI Style Writing Table by Lexcellent of Paris.

Of restrained elegance and sumptuous finish with gilt bronze mounts, the mahogany-veneered writing table supported on tapering stop-fluted legs with bronze sabots and capitals, the writing surface with boxwood stringing, brass border and canted corners, with a single frieze drawer panelled with stiff-leaf ormolu borders. The drawer stamped "Lexcellent / Paris."

French, circa 1900.

Lexcellent of Paris (fl. c.1855-c.1928).

A contemporary of the great cabinetmakers Henry Dasson and Alfred Beurdeley, the Parisian-born Édouard-Guillaume-Edmond Lexcellent established his workshops at the rue de Charenton by 1867, and later at the rue Bréguet where he was joined by Réné Lexcellent. His large atelier employed a team of 80 craftsmen, and his success is evident from his commendable participation at several Paris expositions universelles until 1900, receiving a gold medal there.

Unusual for its time, the firm of Lexcellent had an all-encompassing expertise which embraced the art of cabinetmaking, veneering, marquetry, carving, gilding, as well as casting and hand-chasing gilt bronze mounts. His 'meubles de luxe' were inspired by the elegance of the ancien regime, producing furniture and mirrors in the style favoured by Marie Antoinette which regained popularity thanks to the patronage of Empress Eugenie in the 19th century. A mahogany commode by Lexcellent can be seen at Château de Compiègne, the royal residence of Louis XV.

Comparative Literature:

Denise Ledoux-Lebard. Le mobilier francais du XIXe siècle, 1795-1889 : dictionnaire des ébénistes et des menuisiers, Paris: Éditions de l'amateur, 2000, p. 431-2 (illus p.435).

Payne, Christopher. Paris Furniture: The Luxury Market of the 19th Century. Château de Saint-Rémy: Éditions Monelle Hayot, 2018, pp. 425-426.

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This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

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