Lot 2641: * Louis XVI style Side Table (Marquetry, Rosewood, and Violet Wood)

Louis XVI style Side Table (Marquetry, Rosewood, and Violet Wood) This exquisite side table is a beautiful example of high-end Louis XVI style (Style Louis Seize), defined by the French return to Neoclassical principles of structure, symmetry, and logic. The table features a mostly rectilinear shape, adhering to the Louis XVI preference for straight lines and right angles. It is supported by four legs, but unlike the purely straight, tapered legs of many Louis XVI pieces, these have a very subtle concave curve (ressaut or slight bow). This gentle curve suggests a lingering influence of the earlier Louis XV style or a late 18th-century transitional piece, but the overall effect remains architectural and balanced. The lower edge of the apron (frieze) features a distinct concave cut that creates a graceful, arched opening. It utilizes rosewood and violet wood veneer (or bois de rose and bois de violette) over a solid cherrywood carcase. The decoration is primarily marquetry (inlay work), which was the dominant technique for high-end Louis XVI ébénisterie. Influence (Neoclassicism and Rococo Blending): Neoclassical Louis XVI Influence: The overall symmetry and the use of the expensive, highly decorative marquetry, which often included geometric patterns (though here it is curvilinear), reflect the refined taste of the Louis XVI court. The bronze sabots (feet) are also typically Neoclassical. Rococo (Louis XV) Influence: The gently curved legs, the scalloped or bowed apron, and the use of a naturalistic foliage or floral marquetry motif along the frieze maintain a soft, graceful quality that prevents the piece from becoming overly severe, showing a lasting debt to the earlier Rococo aesthetic. In summary, this side table is a distinguished example of transitional Louis XVI work, using luxurious marquetry and bronze to achieve a final effect that is classically balanced yet soft and elegantly curved.[FR641]