What defines the French Louis XV Revival style in antique furniture?

Popularised during the mid-to-late nineteenth century, the Louis XV Revival style emulated the mid-eighteenth-century Rococo aesthetic. Key characteristics include fluid asymmetrical lines, serpentine tops, slender cabriole legs, ornate gilt bronze mounts, and fine floral marquetry inlays.

What materials are typically found in nineteenth-century French occasional tables?

These tables commonly combine exotic timber veneers such as kingwood, rosewood, and walnut laid over a solid timber substrate. Decorative accents feature gilded bronze or brass cast mounts, known as ormolu, along with detailed wood marquetry depicting floral or scroll motifs.

How can an authentic nineteenth-century marquetry table be identified?

Authentic period examples display hand-cut timber veneers, slight natural surface shrinkage, and cast metal mounts secured with period-appropriate fixing pins. Hand-finished joinery beneath the top and lower tier also indicates historical craftsmanship.

How do designers integrate a Louis XV revival table into modern interiors?

A decorative occasional table serves as an accent alongside a modern sofa, within an entry hall, or beside an armchair. The warm timber tones and gilded accents create a visual contrast against neutral or contemporary architectural backdrops.

What is the correct method for cleaning and preserving marquetry furniture?

Keep timber veneers away from direct heat sources and sunlight to avoid warping or fading. Dust surfaces gently with a soft microfibre cloth, avoid harsh chemical polishes, and clean gilt metal mounts using dry cotton swabs to prevent wood discolouration.

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Antique French Louis Revival Marqutry Ormolu Occasional Table C.1850

Name: Antique French Louis Revival Marqutry Ormolu Occasional Table C.1850
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1129227
Price: 1550 GBP
Availability: InStock

19th century

For Sale by Regent Antiques

Description

This is a beautiful antique French Louis Revival marquetry and ormolu mounted walnut and king wood serpentine side table, circa 1850 in date.

The beautiful shaped marquetry top is framed with an ormolu border. The frieze and slender cabriole legs are decorated with intricate ormolu mounts and the legs terminate in sabot feet, united by a decorative undertier.

There is no mistaking the unique quality and elaborate design, which is certain to make it a talking point in your home and a fine embellishment to your reception room.

Condition:

In really excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned, polished and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 79 cm x Width 51 cm x Depth 39 cm

Dimensions in inches:

Height 2 foot, 7 inches x Width 1 foot, 8 inches x Depth 1 foot, 3 inches

Marquetry

is decorative artistry where pieces of material of different colours are inserted into surface wood veneer to form intricate patterns such as scrolls or flowers.

The technique of veneered marquetry had its inspiration in 16th century Florence. Marquetry elaborated upon Florentine techniques of inlaying solid marble slabs with designs formed of fitted marbles, jaspers and semi-precious stones. This work, called opere di commessi, has medieval parallels in Central Italian "Cosmati"-work of inlaid marble floors, altars and columns. The technique is known in English as pietra dura, for the "hardstones" used: onyx, jasper, cornelian, lapis lazuli and colored marbles. In Florence, the Chapel of the Medici at San Lorenzo is completely covered in a colored marble facing using this demanding jig-sawn technique.

Techniques of wood marquetry were developed in Antwerp and other Flemish centers of luxury cabinet-making during the early 16th century. The craft was imported full-blown to France after the mid-seventeenth century, to create furniture of unprecedented luxury being made at the royal manufactory of the Gobelins, charged with providing furnishings to decorate Versailles and the other royal residences of Louis XIV. Early masters of French marquetry were the Fleming Pierre Golle and his son-in-law, André-Charles Boulle, who founded a dynasty of royal and Parisian cabinet-makers (ébénistes) and gave his name to a technique of marquetry employing brass with pewter in arabesque or intricately foliate designs.

King wood

is a classic furniture wood, almost exclusively used for inlays on very fine furniture. Occasionally it is used in the solid for small items and turned work, including parts of billiard cues, e.g., those made by John Parris. It is brownish-purple with many fine darker stripes and occasional irregular swirls. Occasionally it contains pale streaks of a similar colour to sapwood.

The wood is very dense and hard and can be brought to a spectacular finish. it turns well but due to its density and hardness can be difficult to work with hand tools. It also has a tendency to blunt the tools due to its abrasive properties.

Our reference: A4320

Physical Dimensions

Height

79cm (31.10")

Width

51cm (20.08")

Depth

39cm (15.35")

Declaration

Regent Antiques has dated this French Marquetry Occasional Table to the 1850s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1129227

Dealers Internal Reference

A4320

Description

This is a beautiful antique French Louis Revival marquetry and ormolu mounted walnut and king wood serpentine side table, circa 1850 in date.

The beautiful shaped marquetry top is framed with an ormolu border.

“

The frieze and slender cabriole legs are decorated with intricate ormolu mounts and the legs terminate in sabot feet, united by a decorative undertier.

Regent Antiques

fig 1. An antique French Louis XV revival occasional table featuring floral marquetry inlay, gilded brass ormolu mounts, cabriole legs, and a lower shelf. — fig 1. Antique French Louis Revival Marqutry Ormolu Occasional Table C.1850

There is no mistaking the unique quality and elaborate design, which is certain to make it a talking point in your home and a fine embellishment to your reception room.

Condition:

In really excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned, polished and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.

fig 2. An antique French Louis XV revival occasional table featuring floral marquetry inlay, gilded brass ormolu mounts, cabriole legs, and a lower shelf. — fig 2. Antique French Louis Revival Marqutry Ormolu Occasional Table C.1850

Dimensions in cm:

Height 79 cm x Width 51 cm x Depth 39 cm

Dimensions in inches:

Height 2 foot, 7 inches x Width 1 foot, 8 inches x Depth 1 foot, 3 inches

Marquetry

is decorative artistry where pieces of material of different colours are inserted into surface wood veneer to form intricate patterns such as scrolls or flowers.

The technique of veneered marquetry had its inspiration in 16th century Florence. Marquetry elaborated upon Florentine techniques of inlaying solid marble slabs with designs formed of fitted marbles, jaspers and semi-precious stones. This work, called opere di commessi, has medieval parallels in Central Italian "Cosmati"-work of inlaid marble floors, altars and columns. The technique is known in English as pietra dura, for the "hardstones" used: onyx, jasper, cornelian, lapis lazuli and colored marbles. In Florence, the Chapel of the Medici at San Lorenzo is completely covered in a colored marble facing using this demanding jig-sawn technique.

fig 4. An antique French Louis XV revival occasional table featuring floral marquetry inlay, gilded brass ormolu mounts, cabriole legs, and a lower shelf. — fig 4. Antique French Louis Revival Marqutry Ormolu Occasional Table C.1850

Techniques of wood marquetry were developed in Antwerp and other Flemish centers of luxury cabinet-making during the early 16th century. The craft was imported full-blown to France after the mid-seventeenth century, to create furniture of unprecedented luxury being made at the royal manufactory of the Gobelins, charged with providing furnishings to decorate Versailles and the other royal residences of Louis XIV. Early masters of French marquetry were the Fleming Pierre Golle and his son-in-law, André-Charles Boulle, who founded a dynasty of royal and Parisian cabinet-makers (ébénistes) and gave his name to a technique of marquetry employing brass with pewter in arabesque or intricately foliate designs.

fig 5. An antique French Louis XV revival occasional table featuring floral marquetry inlay, gilded brass ormolu mounts, cabriole legs, and a lower shelf. — fig 5. Antique French Louis Revival Marqutry Ormolu Occasional Table C.1850

King wood

is a classic furniture wood, almost exclusively used for inlays on very fine furniture. Occasionally it is used in the solid for small items and turned work, including parts of billiard cues, e.g., those made by John Parris. It is brownish-purple with many fine darker stripes and occasional irregular swirls. Occasionally it contains pale streaks of a similar colour to sapwood.

fig 6. An antique French Louis XV revival occasional table featuring floral marquetry inlay, gilded brass ormolu mounts, cabriole legs, and a lower shelf. — fig 6. Antique French Louis Revival Marqutry Ormolu Occasional Table C.1850

The wood is very dense and hard and can be brought to a spectacular finish. it turns well but due to its density and hardness can be difficult to work with hand tools. It also has a tendency to blunt the tools due to its abrasive properties.

Our reference: A4320