Four Napoleon III Lacquered Nesting Tables Having Belonged To Paul Vidal De La Blache. Late 19th Century

Set of four elegant and refined nesting tables, built into one another. They are increasing in size. They are lacquered black. Their top is decorated with different natural motifs, birds, fruits and flowers, foliage in varied tones and in the Chinese taste widely popularized in Europe in the previous century. Each rests on turned baluster legs, with light gold edging. The sides are highlighted by nets as well as golden foliage. The motifs are also reminiscent of the "Greek taste" that we find during the Belle Epoque in the decor of Art Nouveau villas such as the Villa Kérylos in Beaulieu-sur-Mer. They have been restored and are in very good condition. Only one of them must be glued back together (which will be done before the sale and in our workshop). Interesting detail: underneath, you can see numbers (perhaps from inventories) and above all they are signed "Paul Vidal" (de La Blache): 1845-1918! They were tailor-made for this scientist, father of French geography. It is therefore a beautiful historical document that we present to you. Paul Vidal de la Blache had a long career as a professor, at the University of Nancy (1872-1877), at the École normale supérieure on rue d'Ulm, then at the Sorbonne from 1898. Founding father from the French school of geography, he signed the Armand Colin wall maps. He is the author of the famous Table of the geography of France (1903). Inspired by the German geographer Friedrich Ratzel (1844-1904), he designed a “human geography” of naturalist inspiration. Subsequently, after Élisée Reclus, he launched a new Universal Geography which appeared between the two wars, contributing to the prestige of French regional geography. Subsequently, he launched the journal, the Annales de Géographie, which is still alive. Paul Vidal de la Blache was therefore one of the leaders of the French school of geography at the beginning of the 20th century. -Small table: 32 cm by 39 wide 70 cm high Leg spacing 35 cm -Second table: 33 cm by 45 wide Height 71 cm Leg spacing 41 cm -Third table: 34 cm by 51 cm wide Height 73 cm Spacing between legs 48 cm - Last table: 37 cm by 73 cm wide Height 74 cm spacing between legs: 54 cm