Antique Louis XVI style ormolu, marble and wood centre table

Antique Louis XVI style ormolu, marble and wood centre table
French, Late 19th Century
Height 82cm, width 113cm, depth 62cm
 
An exceptional example of 19th century French artistry, this antique centre table is fashioned in the refined Louis XVI style. It is constructed from premium materials and reflects the impeccable skill of its era’s master craftsmen.
 
The tabletop features a luxurious rectangular slab of Sarrancolin marble, elegantly encased within a finely cast ormolu border. The ormolu, shaped like acanthus leaves, flows outward over the wooden frame, guiding the eye toward a richly decorated apron below.
 
The front frieze is thoughtfully divided into three segments. At its heart lies a hidden push-button drawer, its panel adorned with intricate gilt bronze detailing - a circular design of ribbon-tied foliage with a central floral motif. Flanking this are two narrower panels with a simplified acanthus ornamentation, a design that continues around the sides of the table for visual harmony.
 
Adding a grand neoclassical flair, draped and tasselled garlands embellish each corner, evoking the luxurious interiors of 18th-century French salons. The tapered square legs are enriched with further ormolu mounts, and the contours of each leg are framed with delicate marquetry inlay for added sophistication.
 
At the base, robust foliate sabots in stylised ormolu not only decorate the feet but also provide protective reinforcement. The gilded bronze mounts are marked in several places with the maker’s initials ‘AL’.
 
Timeless and impressive, this ornate centre table would make a magnificent focal point in both traditional and contemporary interiors, offering a refined statement of historical elegance.