An Exceptional French Empire Period Mahogany Pedestal / Centre Table, Circa 1815

All six frames featuring swan shaped brass inlaid motifs strikingly silhouetted against ebonized panels within brass moldings, over hand carved lyre-shaped splats replete with brass 'strings'. The frames also featuring brass strung stiles, front seat rails & sabre-leg front supports. All are in exceptionally sound condition due to the classical construction method of using oak as the secondary wood for added strength & durability. The swan motif was highly favored by cabinetmakers & mount makers during the Directoire Period and was associated with Napoleons consort Josephine, by interpreting her protective nature towards her children like that of a swan towards it's cygnets). For comparative examples see works by Charles Percier...

An exceptionally fine set of twelve Art Nouveau Period silver-gilt fish knives, all having richly cast and hand chased rocaille silver handles & blades with ...

Superb empire pedestal table with its Saint-Anne marble Pedestal table or center table with a pyramidal base ending with claw feet simulating dolphin heads Very beautiful origina...

A fine Empire style gilt bronze mahogany gueridon or centre table  With a verde antico marble top.  In the manner of Jacob-Desmalter,  circa 1880 Height 31 1/4 Diameter 35 in.   A very fine Empire style gilt bronze-mounted mahogany guéridon after a model by Jacob-Desmalter, the circular verde antico marble top above a mahogany frieze mounted with laurel leaf banding in between rosettes and anthemions, supported of the heads of three finely cast gilt bronze female caryatids, each facing outward with hair in plaits, bare feet and arms crossed, wearing arm bands and a low cut diaphanous dress gathered up toward her breast, the stretcher centred by a chased covered urn flanked by three elegant crouching winged sphinxes wearing Nemes headdresses and plaits tied at the front. The design for this superb guéridon is based on a famous table-console or ‘console double face’ by the celebrated firm of Paris ébénistes Jacob-Desmalter which was itself based on designs by Napoleon’s chief architects and ornamentalistes Charles Percier (1764-1838) and Pierre François Léonard Fontaine...