How do I spot Louis XV style?

Louis XV style pieces are defined by curving lines, cabriole legs, and asymmetrical floral marquetry. The overall silhouette avoids straight edges in favour of organic, flowing contours. Ormolu mounts on these items usually trace the shoulders of the legs and the sweep of the apron, accentuating the rococo revival aesthetic.

Parquetry is a form of wood inlay that uses geometric shapes like squares, triangles, or cubes to create repeating patterns. It contrasts with floral marquetry by depending on architectural symmetry. Tables featuring parquetry often highlight the natural grain differences between timbers such as kingwood and mahogany.

Where were these tables used?

These pieces served practical and decorative roles in nineteenth-century drawing rooms and parlours. Card tables and games tables provided surfaces for evening entertainment. Occasional tables and etagères held decorative objects, lamps, or tea service items, functioning as mobile display pieces.

How do I date a nineteenth-century table?

Dating relies on combining the evidence of construction methods, timber choices, and stylistic revival cues. Pieces referencing Louis XVI revival often feature straighter tapered legs and symmetrical parquetry. Nineteenth-century examples frequently employ kingwood and rosewood veneers over mahogany or walnut carcasses, matching the dominant tastes of the period.

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French Marquetry Tea Table

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A french marquetry tea table brings together intricate wood inlay and gilt mounts, offering a surface for display that carries distinct continental polish.