Louis XVI Giltwood Table
A louis xvi giltwood table brings classical French proportion and gilded warmth to a room.
Louis XVI Giltwood Table
A louis xvi giltwood table takes many forms across the inventory, dominated by console tables designed to stand against a wall, often beneath a matching mirror. These pieces emerge from periods spanning the eighteenth century through the early twentieth century, incorporating French and Italian Neoclassical revivals alongside original eighteenth-century craftsmanship.
Beyond wall consoles, the selection includes occasional tables, coffee tables, centre tables, and side tables constructed in the Louis XVI style. Some examples integrate marble tops or glass surfaces, while others present painted wood elements or gilded column supports.
The objects reflect distinct European workshops working in the neoclassical idiom, carrying architectural motifs like fluted legs and rectilinear or serpentine frames. Buyers encounter both grand salon pieces and smaller boudoir tables.
How they were made
Makers shaped these tables from timber bases, applying gesso layers to build crisp relief ornament before gilding the surface with gold leaf or painting the wood. The application of gold leaf over gesso creates the characteristic luminous finish seen on nineteenth-century and earlier examples.
Many tables incorporate heavy marble slabs fitted to the timber framework, requiring robust joinery to support stone tops. Details like floral mouldings, carved column supports, and Wedgwood plaques demonstrate the combination of carpentry, carving, and decorative assembly used by period artisans.
Some nineteenth-century writing desks conceal Wedgwood plaques among their giltwood and painted decoration for a touch of ceramic relief.
What varies in quality
Quality rests in the crispness of the carved wood and gesso ornamentation, where deeply undercut acanthus leaves and sharp fluting separate master workshops from routine production. The depth and integrity of the original gilding dictate the visual authority of the piece.
The selection of materials marks another division, seen in heavy white or coloured marble tops fitted precisely to serpentine frames rather than simpler wooden or painted surfaces. Structural stability in console bases and the survival of original painted decoration or matching mirrors elevate individual examples.
Felix Alfred Ternisien
The Louis XVI Giltwood Table Glossary
- Giltwood
- Timber coated with gold leaf over a prepared gesso ground. This technique gives furniture a warm metallic sheen that catches interior light.
- Console table
- A table designed to stand against a wall, frequently secured to the plasterwork or balanced on heavy front legs. These tables often carry marble tops.
- Neoclassical
- A style drawing on classical Greek and Roman antiquity, characterised by symmetry, straight lines, and architectural details such as columns and swags.
- Gesso
- A plaster mixture applied to wood surfaces to create a smooth base for carving and gilding. It allows artisans to shape sharp decorative reliefs before applying gold leaf.
- Serpentine
- A furniture outline featuring a gentle double-curve that flows outward and inward. This shape requires skilled carpentry to execute in timber and stone.
Louis XVI Giltwood Table: Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I place a console table?
Console tables sit flat against a wall, making them suited for entryways, hallways, or living rooms beneath a painting or mirror. Their shallow depth allows them to occupy narrow circulation spaces without blocking movement.
Pairing a console with a matching giltwood mirror creates a traditional focal point in a reception room. They also function well behind a sofa or along a dining room wall for serving.
How do I care for giltwood?
Giltwood requires gentle maintenance to protect the delicate gold leaf and gesso layers from moisture and abrasion. Dusting with a dry, soft cloth prevents particle buildup without disturbing the surface.
Avoid using liquid cleaners, polishes, or chemical sprays, which can strip or discolour the historical gilding. Keep these tables away from direct heat sources and strong sunlight.
How do I distinguish eighteenth-century pieces from later revivals?
Eighteenth-century originals display hand-cut joinery, older secondary timbers, and tool marks consistent with period hand tools. Examination of the construction underside often reveals the age of the wood and the assembly methods.
Nineteenth and twentieth-century revival pieces utilise machine-sawn timber and standardised fixings while faithfully copying neoclassical forms. The wear patterns on the gesso and gilding also help establish the chronological span of the object.
What is the difference between a console and a centre table?
A console table stands against a wall and is finished primarily on the front and sides, often requiring wall support for stability. These pieces feature flat backs designed to meet vertical surfaces.
A centre table is freestanding and finished on all four sides to be viewed from any angle in the middle of a room. Centre tables often take circular or oval shapes, such as the gueridon.