French Rococo Style Table
These french rococo style table examples combine serpentine mahogany, kingwood, and gilt bronze mounts to bring dynamic curves into a room.
French Rococo Style Table
A french rococo style table typically appears as a bureau plat, side table, or console table drawing on Louis XV Revival aesthetics from the nineteenth century onward. These pieces adapt eighteenth-century curves for later Victorian and Edwardian interiors, utilising asymmetrical lines and organic forms.
Buyers encounter frequent examples in kingwood, walnut, and mahogany, often fitted with marble tops or intricate marquetry. The selection ranges from compact bedside tables and coffee tables to large writing desks and freestanding occasional tables.
Materials and Construction
Cabinetmakers built these tables using hardwoods such as walnut, oak, and satinwood as a carcase, overlaid with decorative veneers including kingwood arranged in parquetry or floral marquetry patterns. Gilt bronze and ormolu mounts were cast and chased to accentuate the corners, aprons, and legs.
Many designs incorporate inset leather writing surfaces, porcelain plaques, or shaped marble tops in white or rouge varieties, secured to carved wooden frames finished with gilding or polished wood surfaces.
The listings span the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, incorporating materials such as ormolu, marble, kingwood, and walnut across diverse forms like mantel clocks and writing desks.
Craftsmanship and Detail
Quality rests in the crispness of the gilt bronze chasing and the precision of the marquetry work rather than mere surface decoration. Superior examples display fluid, hand-carved wooden elements that integrate seamlessly with the cast metal mounts.
The sophistication of internal mechanisms on writing tables and desks, along with the selection of figured timber veneers, separates standard production pieces from finer cabinet work.
François Linke·Edwards and Roberts·Achille Brocot·Henry Marc·CH Jeanselme and Co·Durand
The French Rococo Style Table Glossary
- Ormolu
- Gilded bronze applied as decorative mounts to furniture and clocks. It provides a bright metallic contrast against dark wood veneers.
- Marquetry
- The art of applying pieces of veneer to a structure to form decorative patterns. Craftsmen use various tinted woods to create floral or geometric designs.
- Bureau Plat
- A formal writing desk featuring a flat top, typically finished with a leather insert. These tables often stand on cabriole legs with bronze mounts.
- Console Table
- A table designed to be placed against a wall, frequently topped with marble. They often require wall fixings for stability.
- Étagère
- A set of open shelves for displaying small objects. These tiered tables offer multiple levels supported by slender uprights.
French Rococo Style Table: Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I place a console table?
Console tables fit naturally against entrance hallway walls or beneath large mirrors in reception rooms. Their shallow depth allows them to occupy narrow spaces without obstructing movement.
Many versions feature marble tops that handle decorative objects or lamps securely. Wall attachment may be necessary for taller or heavier console designs.
How do I care for kingwood surfaces?
Clean polished wood surfaces with a dry microfiber cloth to remove dust. Avoid chemical sprays that can damage antique French finishes and delicate marquetry.
Keep these tables away from direct heat sources and strong sunlight to prevent the wood veneers from drying out or fading over time.
What is a bureau plat used for?
A bureau plat serves as a freestanding writing desk designed to sit centrally within a room rather than against a wall. The finished back allows it to be viewed from all angles.
The leather writing insert provides a smooth surface for correspondence, while drawers integrated into the apron store writing materials.