A Chiffonier Table Made Of Solid Mahogany And Mahogany Veneer, Dating From The Directoire Period.

This elegant chiffonnière-style coffee table features three stacked drawers at the front, with fronts veneered in burl mahogany. The panels and frame stiles, meanwhile, are veneered with straight-grained mahogany, while the four antique-style turned columns are crafted from solid mahogany. The cabinetmaker thus reserved the burl mahogany for the drawer fronts, where its more dynamic grain highlights the piece’s composition, while the other visible parts are finished in straight-grained mahogany with a more regular grain pattern.

The drawers retain their original locks, as well as their escutcheon-shaped lock plates and drop handles with faceted fasteners, characteristic of late 18th-century French furniture.

The base rests on four antique-style turned columns joined by a crossbar. Inspired by classical architecture, these supports frequently appear in French furniture of the 1790s, on tables as well as consoles and certain chairs of the Directoire period. This design vocabulary is notably found in the works of Georges Jacob and his son René Jacob, where the armrests of consoles often take the form of antique columns.

The tabletop is surrounded by its original openwork brass gallery. While the frame is undoubtedly part of the original piece, it is possible that the current mahogany top replaced an earlier marble top, which was more commonly found on this type of furniture in the late 18th century. This potential modification is of an earlier date and fits perfectly with the overall design.

The four legs end in original bronze feet mounted on casters.

The drawers are joined with dovetail joints. Their sides, backs, bottoms, and fronts are made of oak.

The chiffonnière table is a type of furniture that spanned much of the 18th century and the early 19th century, adapting to changing tastes. Our model perfectly illustrates the neoclassical trends of the late 18th century. The antique-style turned columns inspired by the Tuscan order, the simplicity of the lines, and the use of mahogany reflect this renewed interest in ancient architecture that characterized the final years of Louis XVI’s reign and the Directoire period.

The piece has been restored in our workshops and is now in excellent condition.

Dimensions:
Height: 78.5 cm
Width: 50 cm
Depth: 34 cm