A Fine George IV Brass-Inlaid and Mounted Rosewood Writing Table, in the Manner of Le Gaigneur

CIRCA 1825

Height: 29.5" Width: 43.5" Depth: 26.25"

Inventory Number 8293-159

Price

$68,000

Tearsheet

Description

The rectangular leather-inset top set within brass-inlaid arabesque spandrels and broad etched brass banding over a brass-mounted edge molded with floral guilloche decoration above a frieze fitted with two short drawers inlaid with brass premiere-partie panels flanking a brass bearded mask; the reverse with conforming decoration and the sides with brass panels etched with scrolling rinceau decoration; raised on lyre-form standard end supports joined by a turned stretcher; raised on foliate and rosette mounted downswept legs ending in brass paw feet and casters.

Illustrated

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Additional Information

The fabulous enrichment of “Boulle-work” on this writing table reflects the vogue for the Louis XIV style after the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy in France in 1814. Boulle work, so-called after Andre-Charles Boulle, the French ébèniste du roi to Louis XIV, incorporated inlaid marquetry arabesque panels in metal or wood, and enjoyed such popularity that the French émigré cabinetmaker Louis Le Gaigneur opened his own Buhl Manufactory around 1815, supplying none other than the Prince Regent, later George IV. The superlative quality of this table makes it attributable to Le Gaigneur.

A table of identical design is illustrated in Stevens’ and Whittington’s The Norman Adams Collection, pg. 171. The only difference being that the present example has brass panels executed contre partie to illustrated table. With the brass panels being premiere partie on our table and contre partie on the other, it is possible that the two tables constituted a pair when originally designed.