Napoleon III Japonist Tilt-top Pedestal Table With Shoulao Decoration – 19th Century

France, late 19th century

Dimensions:
Height: 80 cm
Diameter: 83 cm

Elegant Napoleon III Japonist tilt-top pedestal table in black lacquered wood, richly decorated with painted and gilt ornamentation inspired by Far Eastern lacquer work.

The large circular top features a refined composition depicting Shoulao (Shou Xing), the Taoist God of Longevity. The sage is shown accompanied by a deer, a traditional symbol of prosperity and immortality, while a young attendant carries a peach of immortality, another emblematic attribute of Taoist tradition. The scene unfolds within a poetic landscape animated by pine trees, stylized clouds, birds and flowering plants, all motifs associated with wisdom, harmony and long life.

A broad border of gilded scrolling foliage and floral ornament surrounds the central scene, enhancing the richness of the composition. The tripod base is similarly decorated with painted and gilt motifs and stands on stylized zoomorphic feet.

The tilt-top mechanism allows the table to be easily folded when not in use. Highly appreciated during the nineteenth century, this ingenious design gives the piece a dual purpose: it can serve as an elegant occasional or games table, while also functioning as a decorative object in its own right. When folded upright, the richly decorated top can be fully appreciated, almost like a painted panel or work of art.

Very good overall condition, with only minor wear and marks consistent with age and use.

This table perfectly illustrates the fascination with Japanese and Chinese art that transformed European decorative arts during the second half of the nineteenth century. More than a simple piece of occasional furniture, it offers a carefully composed decorative scene combining Taoist symbolism, stylized natural forms and luminous gilt highlights against a deep black ground.

The presence of Shoulao, the deer and the peach of immortality gives the decoration an unusually meaningful iconographic dimension. Folded upright against a wall, the table becomes almost pictorial in character; opened, it regains its practical function. This successful balance between utility and decoration remains one of the most appealing qualities of fine Japonist furniture from the late nineteenth century.