Four-legged Coffee Table, Regency Period. Work From The Rhône Valley, 18th Century.

This elegant four-legged salon table perfectly illustrates the spirit of Regency furniture, a pivotal moment in the first third of the 18th century when the still-orderly architecture of the Louis XIV style gradually softened to foreshadow the freer forms of the Louis XV style. Resting on four slender, cabriole legs, the piece presents a harmonious and balanced silhouette. The shaped apron opens with a drawer whose front is delicately carved with a central floret accompanied by stylized branches and small leaves. The uprights are adorned with carved cartouches in the shape of a stylized heart embellished with floral motifs, while the lower rail features a small double-scroll clasp, a decorative element characteristic of the Regency period's ornamental vocabulary. The feet terminate in small sabots reminiscent of deer hooves, a detail found in some regional pieces from southeastern France and the Rhône Valley at the beginning of the 18th century. The cabinet's structure combines fruitwoods—notably pear and cherry—with softwood for the internal parts, a technique frequently used in 18th-century provincial cabinetmaking. The drawer is dovetailed and retains its softwood base, secured with wrought-iron nails, evidence of an old and authentic construction. The top is covered with Bleu Turquin marble, a bluish-grey stone belonging to the Bardiglio family, quarried primarily in the Apuan Alps of Italy. Prized since antiquity and widely used in furniture and architecture during the 17th and 18th centuries, this marble is distinguished by its sinuous white veining, which here animates the surface of the stone. The marble is set within a molded frame forming a wide, crow's-beak molding, a generous profile that emphasizes the top and gives it a strong architectural presence. The entire piece rests on a softwood base, chamfered to remain visually discreet, a feature designed to both support and protect the marble. The table retains a beautiful antique patinated paint in shades of green, whose natural wear and slight traces of time attest to a piece of furniture that has survived the centuries while retaining its authenticity. The marble top also shows small signs of use, a discreet patina that fully contributes to the overall charm. With its balanced proportions, the finesse of its carving, and the richness of its patina, this side table is a captivating example of 18th-century craftsmanship from the Rhône Valley, combining decorative elegance with authentic character. Dimensions: Height: 72.5 cm Width: 95 cm Depth: 60 cm