French Bleached Walnut Gueridon Table, circa 1840

French Bleached Walnut Gueridon Table, circa 1840

A particularly handsome mid-19th century French gueridon table, dating to circa 1840, of elegant proportions and displaying fine quality carving throughout.

Constructed in walnut, the table has been beautifully bleached, giving the timber a wonderfully soft, pale appearance while retaining the natural figuring and character of the wood. It is surmounted by a substantial circular grey marble top, richly figured with dramatic white veining and finished with a moulded edge, providing a striking contrast to the warm, understated tones of the base.

The marble rests above a broad figured walnut frieze, supported on a finely turned central pedestal enriched with gadrooned, beaded and carved foliate decoration. The pedestal descends to an especially attractive tripod base, the three boldly carved supports decorated with scrolling acanthus detail and terminating in pronounced scroll feet.

The combination of the sculptural base, bleached walnut and wonderfully decorative marble gives this table considerable presence. Equally suited as a centre table in an entrance hall, an occasional table in a drawing room, or positioned between a pair of chairs, it would work particularly well in both traditional and more contemporary interiors.

A decorative and highly usable French gueridon, retaining all the character expected of a quality piece from the second quarter of the 19th century