An elegant French Napolean III marquetry podreuse or work table dating to the late 19th century. The hinged top inlaid in the rococo style with amboyna and satinwood to depict floral sprays and scrolling cartouches, the sides highlighted all around with a birds-eye maple panel with ebonised stringing and decorative brass mouldings, on four shaped ebonised legs with embossed brass mounts united by a similarly inlaid undertier with further brass edging. The top lifts to reveal the original dressing mirror and a partitioned interior. Would make a lovely lamp table but as it inlaid and polished to the rear can also be used freestanding in the centre of a room.In good condition, the lock works and comes with a key, the mirror has signs of age and spotting and there is a brass mount missing from the lower part of one leg. A poudreuse is a type of dressing table with a mirrored lid that lifts up to reveal a vanity area, the term originates from the French ‘poudrer’ meaning to powder....