• Width:
  14 Inches
• Height:
  28 Inches
• Depth:
  12 Inches
• Period:
  18th Century
• Origin:
  France

Luxurious hardwoods and hand-painted porcelain distinguish this incredible table ambulante, attributed to the Durand Dynasty of French cabinetmakers. Crafted in the manner of Roger Vandercruse, the two-tiered table is gracefully formed, with flowing lines accented by fine cast bronze ormolu mounts. Exquisite sycamore veneers adorn the surfaces, inlaid with satinwood, purple-heart and fruitwood in a classic trellis pattern. The inset Sèvres porcelain tray, decorated with a colorful woodland scene, is a hallmark of Louis XV-style design. With Louis XV furniture, the asymmetry and heavy ornamentation of the Régence period was made even more lavish through the use of extravagant wood veneers and marquetry. The Durand family, one of the most successful dynasties of cabinetmakers during the 18th and 19th centuries, excelled at this style well into the 19th century, creating pieces adorned with the finest quality decorative inlay. Their pieces exemplify the very best of this sumptuous style. The porcelain tray is marked with interlaced L and letters AA in blue underglaze on the underside, the top has been removed to reveal pencil inscriptions "1913/Paris" and "Devaus." Dated 1913 14" wide x 12" deep x 28" high Roger Vandercruse, known as Lacroix, belonged to the most important dynasty of ébénistes of the 18th century, and was related by marriage to many of the era's most important craftsmen, including Jean-François Oeben and Pierre-Étienne Levasseur. He commissioned pieces for the most prestigious of clients, like Madame du Barry and other members of the aristocracy both privately and through royal ébéniste Gilles Joubert. In fact, numerous pieces of furniture delivered by Joubert to the royal family actually bore the stamp of R.V.L.C. (for Roger Vandercruse La-Croix) as Joubert frequently subcontracted his commissions to him. LITERATURE: French Furniture Makers, 1989, Alexandre Pradere, p. 288 for the original model.