Gilt Mounted Side Tables
Gilt mounted side tables combine rich timber frames with decorative metal mounts, offering both elegance and surface space for a room.
Gilt Mounted Side Tables
When searching for gilt mounted side tables, buyers encounter nineteenth century French forms that include centre tables, occasional tables, and console tables. These pieces often incorporate revival designs such as Louis XV, Louis XVI, and French Empire styles.
The selections span various woods paired with decorative metals and stone, reflecting nineteenth century craftsmanship primarily originating from French workshops and makers.
How they were made
The construction relies on timber frameworks of kingwood, mahogany, walnut, and rosewood, frequently enhanced by parquetry and marquetry inlay techniques.
Craftsmen applied cast ormolu and gilt bronze mounts to accent edges and legs, while many surfaces are completed with fitted marble tops.
Materials recorded across the inventory include ormolu, kingwood, mahogany, walnut, rosewood, and marble.
What varies in quality
Quality rests in the precision of the marquetry patterns and the crispness of the cast ormolu or gilt bronze mounts attached to the frame.
The selection of timber veneers and the integration of stone tops dictate the overall standard of each piece.
Maison Millet·Joseph Emmanuel Zwiener·Krieger Paris·E. Kahn·François Linke
The Gilt Mounted Side Tables Glossary
- Ormolu
- Gilt bronze applied to furniture mounts and decorative hardware. The technique involves a mercury gilding process historically used on French pieces.
- Marquetry
- Fitted wood veneers arranged in pictorial or geometric patterns across table surfaces. Craftsmen select contrasting timbers to achieve tonal depth.
- Kingwood
- A dense, richly figured timber utilised extensively in nineteenth century cabinet making. Its dark grain provides a distinct background for metal mounts.
- Bouillotte table
- A small round occasional table featuring a raised gallery edge designed to prevent items from sliding off. They often include marble tops and candle arms.
- Gueridon
- A small round French table supported by a central pillar or multiple legs. These frequently appear with decorative marquetry tops.
Gilt Mounted Side Tables: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I identify a gilt mounted side table?
These tables are identified by their timber frames adorned with cast bronze or ormolu mounts, often paired with marble tops.
They frequently display nineteenth century French revival styles like Louis XV or Louis XVI.
Where were these tables made?
The majority originate from French workshops and Parisian cabinet makers active during the nineteenth century.
Some pieces reflect Italian or English production from the same period using similar materials.
What woods are commonly found?
Common timbers include kingwood, mahogany, walnut, and rosewood, frequently decorated with intricate marquetry.
These woods provide a dark, contrasting background for the gilt bronze mounts.
How do I care for a marble top?
Clean the stone surface using a soft, damp cloth without harsh acidic chemicals that might etch the polish.
Protect the marble from sharp impacts and sudden temperature changes to preserve the material.