C19th French vanity table

C19th French vanity table

Code: R0411

Dimensions:

H: 28" (71.1 cm)W: 19.2" (48.8 cm)D: 15" (38.1 cm)

SOLD

Exceptional C19th French vanity table / sewing table by Tahan Paris in the Louis XV style; the serpentine shaped top with a fine quality floral marquetry panel incorporating a spray of flowers and foliage with two butterflies on a satinwood background crossbanded with tulipwood and kingwood; surrounded by a foliate ormolu moulding; the lid having a mirror to the underside and engraved hinges; the shaped drawer below quarter veneered in kingwood with ormolu eschucheons; the sides and back with similarly shaped kingwood panels and ormolu embelishments.  Raised on shapely cabriole legs headed with female mask ormolu mounts, the legs terminating in ormolu sabots.  The lock plate engraved 'TAHAN Rue de la Paix 30' and retaining its original ormolu key.

Alphonse Tahan (1830-1880) was the official ÈbÈniste de l'Empereur or master cabinet maker to Emperor Napoleon III and his wife, the Empress EugÈnie. Known for her beauty and impeccable taste, the Empress Eugene enjoyed the reputation as a trend setter and favored the workshop Tahan. Tahan Fabricant was located at 30 Rue de La Paix from 1849 and subsequently from 1878 at Boulevard des Italiens and employed more than two hundred employees in several workshops. The firm exhibited at The London Crystal Palace Exhibition in 1851 and the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1855, and on both occasions were awarded medals and a gold medal at the Worldís Fair of 1867.
 
French circa 1860
Good condition
Dimensions (ins) 19.25 wide x 15 deep x 28 high