A French Sideboard That ‘Packs a Punch’:
Not every piece of furniture serves the same purpose. Some are merely functional, while others such as this 19th century French Louis XV sideboard are designed to pack a punch. Watch our latest video and marvel at the attention to detail and wonderful quality of this 19th century French sideboard.
Historically, a cabinet such as this might have been found in a beautiful entry hall, drawing room or transition room and while significant in height, which tells us its come from a home of considerable stature, the piece is unusually narrow at 410mm which makes it ideally suited to fit into hallways where space might be at a premium.
An exceptional 19th century French Louis XV sideboard, the original white marble top is set into a kingwood and tulip-wood frieze housing a single drawer, with fine gilded bronze mounts over a panelled tulipwood door with central oval ebonised and foliate marquetry panel which opens to reveal a polished interior flanked by a pair of canted cross-banded side panels and all raised on ebonised bun feet.
While some 19th century French sideboards were profuse in their marquetry, this cabinetmaker has kept the marquetry inlay relatively understated and instead focused on the wonderful quality tulipwood and kingwood veneers which he’s combined in cross-banded patterns across the piece. This geometric design juxtaposes beautifully with the elegant curves of both the shaped bottom apron and opposing inlays and gilded bronze underneath the top frieze.
The Ébéniste has balanced dark and light across the piece, concentrating small areas of agonised mouldings along the top frieze, central cartouche and bun feet of the French sideboard. The panelled and inlaid door opens to reveal a polished interior and the marble top is original and a beautiful ivory which has been inlaid into a gilded bronze surround and expensively shaped across the corners and concave sides.
Circa: 1880
Dimensions:1310mmW x 1160H x 410mmD
