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A Rare and Highly Important Russian Imperial Period Gilt-Bronze Mounted and Marquetry Inlaid, Triple Turn-Over Games Table

This rare and elegant marquetry games table, or Lomberian, is representative of the golden age of Russian craftsmanship of the early nineteenth century.  The table, in keeping with courtly pursuits of the day, has a triple turn-over top, opening successively to reveal a chess board and a leather playing surface for cards.  

The upper surface with exceptional marquetry inlay in stained sycamore, holly, boxwood, and Russian native timbers.   It is centred by an oval roundel with a decorative and highly unusual still-life tableau of playing cards and dice. 

The distinctive form of the decorative marquetry inlay and the use of rich indigenous timbers confirm the Russian origin of this table.  The flowering tendrils being a distinctive feature of the work of a small group of St Petersburg cabinet makers such as Nikifor Vasilyev and Matvei Veretennikov.  Both of these master cabinet makers were serfs, Veretennikov belonging to Count Alexander Vasilievich Soltikov and Vassilyev belonging to the Sheremetev estate.   It is interesting to note, that of the small number of known masterpieces by these makers, two of them are elaborately inlaid gaming tables, confirming its importance as a furniture type amongst the Upper Classes of the period. 
 
A late eighteenth century marquetry gaming table by Veretennikov now resides at the Moscow Museum of Russian History, and a marquetry inlaid games table, of related form to the present example, by Nikifor Vasilyev, can be found in the Standard Room of the Peterhof Palace.  

St. Petersburg, Circa 1820.

Literature:

Bott, I.K.  Tsarskoselskaya Furniture and Crowned Owners,  Avora,  (Moscow), 2009.

Fomin, U.V. The Art of Marquetry in Eighteenth Century Russia, (Moscow), 1989. 

Cheneviere, Antoine. Russian Furniture:  The Golden Age 1780 - 1840, Antique Collectors Club, (Woodbridge, UK), 2001.

View on adrianalan.com

Dimensions:

Dimensions of Top when open:    
Width:  91 cm / 31 inches
Depth:  91 cm / 31 inches  

 

Price on application





Stock number

B70877
Open Monday-Friday 10-6

The BADA Standard

  • Since 1918, BADA has been the leading association for the antiques and fine art trade
  • Members are elected for their knowledge, integrity and quality of stock
  • Our clients are protected by BADA’s code of conduct
  • Our dealers’ membership is reviewed and renewed annually
  • Bada.org is a non-profit site: clients deal directly with members and they pay no hidden fees
Click here for more information on the BADA Standard