Alphonse Giroux et Cie Tables

An antique oak sewing machine table with an iron base. As you can see in the first pictures it is of the table in the open position. The antique s...

A scarce period Charles X (1818-1834) French Restoration mahogany travailleuse sewing (thread stand - side table - jewelry dressing table) with light, warm, beautifully aged patina. Born in France in the early 19th century, almost certainly Parisian work, exquisitely hand-crafted, this exceptionally executed example features ornate gilt bronze ormolu mounts, escutcheons, and elaborate gilt metal trim. Having a highly figured light mahogany hinged lid top, lifting open to reveal a striking finished interior with divided compartments and original inset mirror plate. The conforming rectangular case fitted with a faux drawer front over a dovetailed drawer with sectioned interior. Elegantly rising on oval-shaped medial shelf stretcher-joined curvacious legs. Dimensions (approx): 27" High, 20" Wide, 13.5" Deep Stunning light almost blonde antique mahogany coloring and mellow warm tone, superb wood grain detail, and charming, beautifully aged patina over the whole. Great shape overall. Retaining original antique character marks, wear consistent with age and indicative of minimal use, nothing that detracts from the aesthetics or functionality, but only adds to the overall authenticity, refined elegant warmth, luxurious sophistication, and cozy unpretentious rustic elegance. Delivered cleaned, hand waxed, polished French patina finish, ready for immediate use and generational enjoyment! What is Charles X style: The comte d’Artois – or Charles X - was the son of the dauphin Louis-Ferdinand de Franc and Marie-Josèphe de Saxe. He succeeded his two brothers Louis XVI and Louis XVIII and became the King of France in 1824. Thirty years after the French Revolution, he wanted to embody the return of monarchy and became the leader of the catholic party . As the previous kings, he was crowned in 1825 but he was soon overthrown by the revolution in July, 1830, called "Trois Glorieuses". He left then for England, Scotland, Prague and Istria where he died in 1836. Charles X style lasted from 1818 to 1834 and happened during the Bourbon Restoration (French Restoration). This style did not replace totally the style of furniture from the French Empire but it was different from the formalism in the Napoleonic era, during which strictness and simplicity were inspired by Greco-Roman art. Indeed, artistic fields flourished. In terms of furniture, this renewal was suggested by the softening of shapes. Even though the simple aspect from the French Empire was still visible, shapes became curvier with volutes and arabesques. Another distinction is the loss of the massive aspect of furniture and the decrease of dimensions in order to decorate smaller appartments. Handling ability and comfort were key-words in the making of furniture. Apartments had essential elements such as chests of drawers, big rounded tables in the dining room, desks or secretaries, armoires and even dressing tables, comfortable fainting couches in the living room, small tables, pedestal tables, as well as gondola chairs. The wavy aspect of the latters certainly represent Charles X style the best.  One of the most emblematic features of this style is the use of bois clairs – light woods in warm blond tones - and indigenous woods that are varnished in order to highlight the grains. Bird's-eye maple, ash trees, plane trees, yew trees, beech trees, olive trees and cedar trees were most likely to be used. Indeed, at the beginning of the 19th century dark woods were hard to find. In 1806, the Napoleon’s Continental System was established in order to ruin the United Kingdom by preventing the country from any business with the rest of Europe. Therefore craftsmen had to find alternatives from mahogany which was the most commonly used material at this time. After 1815, the import of wood was even more difficult because of peace treaties and the European political situation, which contributed to the popularity of the bois clairs and indigenous woods. The furniture was often decorated with fine inlays made out of dark wood representing foliage, which contrasted with the veneer. Even though these patterns can look like bronze decorations from the Empire era,  they were far more simple and did not represent any military or mythological attributes. On the tables, trays were sometimes made out of marble as in the French Empire, but it was often put aside and inlaid veneer, Verre Eglomisé – a type of glass with a mirror finish –, mirror or porcelain from Sèvres or Paris were more likely to be used. Decorative elements from the Monarchy were highly appreciated again as they suggested luxury. Indeed, marquetry work was particularly fashionable - Boulle marquetry thrived around 1820 as the works of the Levasseur family can show. In the same way, draperies and trimmings referred to the monarchist splendour. Fabrics were often white – the traditional colour of the Bourbons – or light coloured as oppposed to the typical green from the Napoleonic era.  One of the most symbolic figures from this period of time might be Jean-Jacques Werner (1791-1849), a cabinetmaker who worked for prestigious clients such as the Duchesse de Berry who was Charles’s step-daughter. His works can be seen at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs and at the Grand Trianon in the Palace of Versailles. The duchess’s appartments situated at the pavillon de Marsan and at the Palais de Saint Cloud illustrate Charles X style the best with furniture made out of bois clairs and ornamented with dark wood patterns or fine gold decorations. Chales X style allows a transition between the sobriety of the Empire style and the abundant aspect of Louis-Philippe style. The gothic style started at this time through the "style à la cathédrale", inspired by religious architecture, which thrived from 1827 to 1830. Indeed, at the beginning of the 19th century, Romanticism put the spotlight on the Middle Ages. Cabinetmakers were not inspired by the medieval furniture but rather by architectural elements of churches and cathedrals. For instance the backs of chairs were decorated with arches shaped like rib and serration. In the same way, before Charles X abdicated, pieces of furniture were made out of dark woods – such as mahogany, which was used again in France – and were inlaid with light wood. Romanticism also influenced the layout of furniture in appartments to suggest movement through a mix of various styles, various shapes and various sizes, as opposed to the static aspect of Neoclassicism. The start of industrialisation and mechanisation also influenced this style as early technical developments led to the production of pieces of furniture in series. Credit: Marc Maison Bibliography: FANIEL Stéphane (Dir.), Le Dix-neuvième Siècle Français, Collection Connaissance des Arts, 1957, Hachette SASSONE, Adriana Boidi, Furniture from Rococo to Art Deco, 2000, Evergreen -- Extremely versatile: As warm and attractive as it is useful, this remarkable antique table having the ideal size and small proportions for a variety of different uses, including as a side table, accent or occasional table, tall sofa...

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Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this original Victorian circa 1860-1880 Burr Walnut, work sewing table with Chessboard top and a beautifully...

French Sewing Table, manner of Alphonse Giroux, Paris, 19th century. This pretty small sewing table has a beautiful birds eye maple veneer and its...

Square top with tooled brown leather over a shaped apron with four drawers, raised on cabriole legs. Provenance; Sophie H. Gimbel.

Refined country French elegance and sophistication at its finest, this Provincial Louis XV style lady's sewing stand work table or coiffeuse by Ledet et fils exudes refined grace and functionality. Born in Bordeaux Region of Southwestern France in the mid-19th century, exceptionally executed in sophisticated King Louis Fifteenth (1715-1774) taste, hand-crafted of warm mellow solid mahogany, having a rectangular serpentine shaped hinged top opening to reveal the original flat mirror plate, over a removable divided tray, faux drawer front with wooden escutcheon, above a sewing / work bin, gently curved scalloped apron, all rising elegantly on long cabriole legs adorned with finely carved shell acanthus leaf knee ending in whorl feet, terminating on casters. circa 1850s Signed, retaining the original ébéniste (cabinetmakers) makers mark to the underside, reading: Ledet Fab de Meubles Bordeaux Dimensions: (approx) 29.25" High, 24" Wide, 16.75" Deep Versatile: As warm and attractive as it is useful, having the ideal size and proportions for a variety of different uses, including as a side table, accent table, hall console, sofa table, bedside nightstand, rolling lamp...

A fine Louis XV style gilt-bronze mounted marquetry inlaid dressing table by Maison Giroux. The underside of the drawer with a stencil mark and paper label for 'Alphonse Giroux &...

A handsome nearly 200 year old French Louis Philippe period (1830-1848) walnut travailleuse (sewing work table - thread stand) Born in France in the mid-19th century, hand-crafted o...

Elegant Victorian sewing table - or work box - in walnut Great patina to the wood Top opens out to reveal all the compartments and boxes On lyre...

French dining table with three extencions by Maison Jansen in lacquered wood. There is matching set of six caned chairs and two large cabinets if you are interested. Louise XV styl...