Louis Xvi Style Lyre Side Tables, Set of 2

Pair of side tables with gilded lyres

France
Mahogany, bronze
Louis XVI style

Dimensions: H x W x D: 66 x 43 x 33 cm

:
Pair of side tables in the style of Claude Charles Saunier with rich gilded bronze decoration.

The bases of the tables are each made up of two lyres, which are connected at the bottom with a crossbar. Striking flower rosettes cover the connection points with the crossbar and are repeated in a smaller form at the upper ends of the lyre supports.
The frame supports a single-light box with a pull knob to open the drawer. Friezes of intertwined circles are mounted on all four sides of the frame. The corners of the box are decorated with foliage and decorative nails.
The parquet table tops are framed by openwork galleries.

The quality of the furniture, especially the bronze work, is outstanding. The clean casts are all finely chiselled and very carefully gilded. The corners of the panelled surrounds are worth mentioning, not only because there are no butt seams to be seen here, but also because the galleries are very harmoniously and symmetrically worked across corners. We see archways meeting at the corners of one table and cornered leaves on the other.

The fact that the furniture is designed in the same quality on all sides means that it can also be positioned freely in the room.

Worth knowing:
The stylistic model for the tables is a salon table by Saunier from the late 18th century. It is illustrated in Pierre Kjellberg - Le Mobilier Francais Du XVIIIe Siecle on page 824.
Claude Charles Saunier (1735-1807) was the son of the cabinetmaker Jean-Charles Saunier (Master 1743). Claude Charles received his master's title at the age of 17 on 31 July 1752. He took over his father's workshop in the Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Antoine in 1765, and while he had previously worked predominantly in the curved forms of Louis XV, this changed when he took over the workshop. from then on, his furniture was characterised by straight lines and clearly structured surfaces.
The exceptionally high quality of his furniture earned Saunier an excellent reputation, not only in France but also abroad, particularly in London. He worked for the dealer Daguerre, whose customers included major collectors from across the English Channel, such as Lord Spencer.
It is therefore not surprising that there were also cabinetmakers in the 19th and 20th centuries who copied characteristic furniture from the oeuvre of Claude Charles Saunier. Famous manufacturers of furniture in the old style in the 19th century included Francois Linke and Guillaume Grohe. The furniture was not offered as fakes, but as period furniture. Many of these pieces of furniture are accordingly labelled with the manufacturer's stamps.

The pair of furniture on offer here is attributed to the ebenist, furniture manufacturer and antique dealer André Mailfert (1884-1943) or the Mailfert Amos company that emerged from him.
Mailfert became famous for his book Au Pays des Antiquaires - Confessions of an Antique Forger . In contrast to the aforementioned ebenists Linke or Grohe, Mailfert did not initially stamp his furniture, but offered it as genuine antique pieces in his own antique shop or brokered it to his wealthy clientele via middlemen. Later, Mailfert ran a manufactory-like business in which he produced furniture and paintings in the old style as well as his own creations.
The quality of his furniture was exceptionally good. It was made in the old craftsmanship tradition and the traces of the old hand tools convinced even connoisseurs and experts of the authenticity of the pieces. To this day, Mailfert furniture is often dated to the 19th or even 18th century.

The tables on offer here were probably made in small series and appear from time to time in the art and antiques trade.

Condition:
Very beautiful, restored condition of the wood. Shellac hand polish. The original gilding has been cleaned and is in very desirable condition with minimal rubbing and slight signs of age and use.

The last three photos show the unrestored condition as found.

Please refer to the following literature:
Pierre Kjellberg - Le Mobilier Francais Du XVIIIe Siecle from p. 812
Andre Mailfert - Au Pays des Antiquaires