Louis XVI Period Pedestal Table With Tilting Top.

Louis XVI period pedestal table with a circular tilting top, mounted on a central tripod shaft with curved skated legs ending in casters. This type of refined furniture, both decorative and functional, was used for snacks, hot drinks, light writing or reading in salons, boudoirs or conversation rooms of the late 18th century. It shares certain uses with cabaret tables, while being distinguished by its round top and its tilting mechanism, inspired by England. This pedestal table is made of solid mahogany, with a beautiful deep and glossy tone. The central shaft, finely turned and fluted, is decorated in its fluting with gilt bronzes depicting falling laurel leaves - an emblematic neoclassical motif, symbolizing glory and elegance in the antique style. The tripod base, with molded feet, rests on skates mounted on bronze casters, allowing easy movement. At the junction of the three legs, a connecting mass of blond mahogany creates a delicate play of contrasts with the rest of the wood, revealing a subtle decorative concern and careful joinery work, probably Parisian. The round top is in original white veined Carrara marble, in excellent condition, surrounded by an openwork bronze gallery. It is mounted on a tilting mechanism known as "à l'anglaise", allowing it to be upright when not in use - an ingenuity inherited from British furniture, appreciated in French interiors from the 1780s. This pedestal table subtly illustrates the neoclassical aesthetic specific to the reign of Louis XVI: balanced proportions, measured but refined decoration, references to Antiquity, and the use of noble materials (mahogany, marble, bronze). It is probably a Parisian work, datable to the years 1785–1790. Very good general condition. Original marble, without chips or restoration. Well-preserved bronze gallery. Complete bronze fluting, with period gilding. Wood patina carefully revived. Functional rocking mechanism. Dimensions: Height: 73 cm Diameter of the top: 65 cm