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Table

1855 (made)
Artist/Maker
Firm of Edouard Kreisser (maker)
Place of origin
Paris (made)

Queen Victoria (ruled 1837-1901) ordered this small French table as a Christmas present for her husband, Prince Albert, in 1855 The porcelain plaque on the front carries their joint monogram, ‘VA’. The table was also a souvenir of their state visit to the Emperor Napoleon III in France earlier in the year. The visit had coincided with the Exposition Universelle, which was held in Paris. This was France’s answer to the British success of the Great Exhibition, which had been held in the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, in 1851. Queen Victoria visited the Paris exhibition three times, but did not order this table until she returned to London.


Object details

Categories
Furniture
SCRAN
Object type
Table
Materials and techniques
Marquetry of tulipwood and other woods on a carcase of oak, with porcelain plaques, and mounts in gilded and silvered bronze
Tulipwood
Oak
Porcelain
Gilt
Bronze
Gilding
Marquetry
Silvered
Brief description
Table, with marquetry, porcelain plaques and gilded and silvered bronze mounts, made by the firm of Edouard Kreisser, Paris, 1855
Physical description
A table in Louis XVI style, with marquetry of tulipwood and other woods, with mounts of gilded and silvered bronze, the frieze set with a porcelain plaque
Dimensions
  • Height: 83cm
  • Width: 119cm
  • Depth: 61.2cm
Style
Louis XVI Revival
Marks and inscriptions
E. Kreisser / a Paris. 52 rue Basse du Rempart / Expotion Universelles / de Paris 1855 (1) Makers's mark; French; Cursive; On main marquetry panel on top; Engraved; 1855)
Gallery label
  • Europe and America 1800-1900, room 101 TABLE IN THE LOUIS XVI STYLE 1855 Shown at the International Exhibition, Paris, 1855 Queen Victoria bought this table as a Christmas present for Prince Albert. They had first seen it during a state visit to France, when they made three visits to the International Exhibition – France’s answer to London’s Great Exhibition of 1851.The table imitates the style of the period of Louis XVI (1774–92), a style that was reproduced throughout Europe. France, Paris; made in the workshops of Edouard Kreisser Marquetry of tulipwood and other woods, on a carcase of oak; set with porcelain plaques and bronze mounts, gilded and silvered Signed in the marquetry Given by George Farrow (05/08/2015)
  • TABLE W.9-1964 'American and European Art and Design 1800-1900' This table was purchased by Queen Victoria at the Paris 1855 Exhibition for 2500 francs. It was given by her to Prince Albert as a Christmas present in the same year. A cabinet in en suite, purchased at the same time for 8000 francs, was his birthday present in August 1856 (now at Kensington Palace). The table, signed 'E. KREISSER. a Paris. 52 Rue Basse du Rempart Exposion. Universelle de Paris 1855', is an accomplished example of the revival of the Louis XVI style of the 1770s and 1780s. Given by George Farrow Esq.(1987-2006)
  • Europe and America 1800-1900, room 101 TABLE IN THE LOUIS XVI STYLE 1855 Shown at the International Exhibition, Paris, 1855 France, Paris; made in the workshops of Edouard Kreisser Marquetry of tulipwood and other woods, on a carcase of oak; set with porcelain plaques and bronze mounts, gilded and silvered Signed in the marquetry Museum no. W.9-1964 Given by George Farrow Queen Victoria bought this table as a Christmas present for Prince Albert. They had first seen it during a state visit to France, when they made three visits to the International Exhibition - France's answer to London's Great Exhibition of 1851. The table imitates the style of the period of Louis XVI (1774-92), a style that was reproduced throughout Europe.(2006)
Credit line
Presented by Mr George Farrow, Kent
Object history
Ordered by Queen Victoria from the firm of Edouard Kreisser after her visit to the Paris International Exhibition in 1855, with a cabinet. See 'Victoria and Albert. Art and Love', catalogue of the exhibition at the Queen's Gallery, 2010, no. 180, pp. 261-2). The table was given to Prince Albert as a Christmas present in 1855. Both table and cabinet were at Osborne in the late-nineteenth century (Osborne Catalogue, 1876, vol. II, p. 22) where they stood in the Small Drawing Room or Audience Room. It is not known when or how the table left the Royal Collection.

In 1964 the table was with the dealers Kerrins in London and was bought by Mr George Farrow, who presented it to the V&A.
Subjects depicted
Monogram
Coat of Arms
Floral Patterns
Cross
Quiver
Urn
Bird
Festoons
Scroll
Putti
Association
Paris Exposition Universelle, 1855
Summary
Queen Victoria (ruled 1837-1901) ordered this small French table as a Christmas present for her husband, Prince Albert, in 1855 The porcelain plaque on the front carries their joint monogram, ‘VA’. The table was also a souvenir of their state visit to the Emperor Napoleon III in France earlier in the year. The visit had coincided with the Exposition Universelle, which was held in Paris. This was France’s answer to the British success of the Great Exhibition, which had been held in the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, in 1851. Queen Victoria visited the Paris exhibition three times, but did not order this table until she returned to London.
Bibliographic references
  • Wilk, Christopher, ed. . Western Furniture 1350 to the Present Day. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1996. 230p., ill. ISBN 085667463X.
  • Art & Design in Europe and America 1800-1900. Introduction by Simon Jervis (London: The Herbert Press, 1987), pp. 94-5
  • Bellaigue, Geoffrey. de, 'Queen Victoria Buys French in 1855', Antique Collector (April 19), pp. 37-41
Collection
Furniture and Woodwork Collection
Accession number
W.9-1964

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Record createdJune 1, 2001
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O59320/table-firm-of-edouard/
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