• Height:
  35 Inches
• Depth:
  54 3/4 Inches
• Period:
  Other
• Origin:
  France

The noble game of billiards has deep roots among French royalty and during the 1800s it was a favorite pastime for kings and aristocrats. This magnificent Charles X French pocket billiard table is superior in every way and was almost certainly commissioned for royal or noble use. It is exquisitely crafted of rosewood with exotic wood inlay and adorned with fabulous dore bronze ball returns in the form of angelic faces that drop open when the ball is pocketed. The massive cabriole legs are rendered in finely chiseled dore bronze. In terms of quality, rarity and beauty, it is one of the finest tables on the market.

Circa 1825

54 3/4" wide x 100 1/8" length x 35" high

Though experts have speculated for centuries about the true origins of billiards, most agree that the game evolved from a lawn game similar to that of croquet around the 15th-century, hence the green cloth resembling grass. The game underwent numerous transformations over the centuries and by the late 17th century, most towns could boast ownership of at least one public billiards table. Even Shakespeare must have spent his share of time at the billiard table. In his famous work Antony and Cleopatra, penned in 1600, the famous writer made mention of the game. 

The French nobility in particular were enamored by the game. The term "billiard" is actually derived from the French word billart, meaning wooden stick, and bille, meaning ball. By the early 1800s, it had become known as the "Noble game of Billiards" and glorious tables such as this could be found in royal palaces and estates throughout Europe. Opulent in decoration, grand in scale and rich in history, these tables speak volumes about why the game captured the attention of kings and commoners alike. A majestic, early 19th-century table such as this, beautifully restored and in excellent condition, is truly a remarkable and wonderful find.