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Table
unknown - Enlarge image
Table
- Place of origin:
Paris, France (probably, made)
- Date:
ca. 1860-1870 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
unknown (production)
- Materials and Techniques:
Carcase of oak and sycamore, veneered in purplewood, boxwood and tulipwood, with marquetry of holly, purplewood, sycamore (stained in parts), pearwood, hornbeam; mounts of gilt bronze; writing surface of leather
- Credit Line:
Bequeathed by John Jones
- Museum number:
1070:1-1882
- Gallery location:
In Storage
The collection of French 18th-century furniture became a mania among rich connoisseurs throughout Europe and America in the middle of the 19th century. John Jones, who left this table to the V&A in 1882, was among the most celebrated collectors. At this time furniture in the style of the 18th century was both reproduced and faked, and many collectors bought quite new objects thinking that they were more than a century older.
The decoration of this small table is in the style of the marquetry produced by Roger Vandercruse (RVLC) and by Charles Topino, both of whom worked in Paris in the 1760s. John Jones probably thought that it had been made at that date. Although the table is a good copy of such pieces, the exceptionally thin veneers are machine cut. This is typical of 19th-century work, as is the use of ‘stringing’ – narrow lines of veneer outlining the panel.
