Work Table
1899-1900 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This work table was designed and made by Emile Gallé in about 1900. Gallé is best known for his skill as a glass-maker but from 1889 he was also a successful furniture designer. He founded the School of Nancy, a group of designers who produced most of the best Art Nouveau glass and furniture in France from the 1880s until Gallé’s death in 1904. The table’s foliate marquetry, in the form of a rambling clematis, and foliate openwork carving is typical of the Art Nouveau style and is a good example of the links between Art Nouveau and Rococo.
The table was shown at the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1900 and was one of five items of furniture by Gallé that was acquired by George Donaldson directly from the Exhibition and presented to the Victoria and Albert Museum. He also purchased and presented work by other European designers in the hope that British designers, craftsmen and manufacturers could have access to the very best examples of the 'New Art' furniture being produced in Europe.
The table was shown at the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1900 and was one of five items of furniture by Gallé that was acquired by George Donaldson directly from the Exhibition and presented to the Victoria and Albert Museum. He also purchased and presented work by other European designers in the hope that British designers, craftsmen and manufacturers could have access to the very best examples of the 'New Art' furniture being produced in Europe.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Carved ash and walnut, amboyna, harewood, sycamore and other woods |
| Brief description | carved ash and walnut, amboyna, harewood, sycamore and other woods, designed and made by Emile Galle, French (Nancy), 1899-1900 to work table; French, 1899-1900, old |
| Physical description | Table with a flat top on two end supports, each with carved brackets under the table top. Halfway between the top and the bottom there is a box fitted between the legs and below this there is a panel of floral carving which is fitted to the stretcher. The end supports rest on four curved feet with scrolling carving above. The box is hinged and divided into a large and a small compartment, the latter containing a sliding box of three compartments, with a hinged lid. The table is inlaid with two inscriptions `Travail est Joie' and 'Chez Galle'. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label | WORK-TABLE
Designer and manufacturer: Emile Gallé (1846-1904)
France (Nancy): about 1900
Carved ash and walnut, with marquetry of various woods
1986-1900
The top is inlaid 'Travail et Joie', the title of the piece, and 'Chez Gallé'. The ornament is taken from the wild clematis.
Given by Sir George Donaldson(pre 1990) |
| Credit line | Given by George Donaldson |
| Summary | This work table was designed and made by Emile Gallé in about 1900. Gallé is best known for his skill as a glass-maker but from 1889 he was also a successful furniture designer. He founded the School of Nancy, a group of designers who produced most of the best Art Nouveau glass and furniture in France from the 1880s until Gallé’s death in 1904. The table’s foliate marquetry, in the form of a rambling clematis, and foliate openwork carving is typical of the Art Nouveau style and is a good example of the links between Art Nouveau and Rococo. The table was shown at the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1900 and was one of five items of furniture by Gallé that was acquired by George Donaldson directly from the Exhibition and presented to the Victoria and Albert Museum. He also purchased and presented work by other European designers in the hope that British designers, craftsmen and manufacturers could have access to the very best examples of the 'New Art' furniture being produced in Europe. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1986:1-1900 |
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| Record created | June 26, 2001 |
| Record URL |
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