The table (or desk), made of a light-colored, solid French walnut (noyer blond), has two drawers. The wood has the characteristic clarity and small grain of old growth walnut, along with a depth and richness benefiting from the ciré patiné technique.
The design of the desk involves classic Neo-Renaissance elements such as ionic columns supported by a square base of carved acanthus leaves, a trestle stretcher with colonettes supporting carved arches, corbels located on the frieze.
Hand-carved in France, most likely around the end of the 19th century, the desk has its original hardware. The virtuosic carving eloquently reflects the 19th century passion for Renaissance stylistic elements dating back to Greco-Roman architecture. Unlike other Renaissance Revival pieces we have offered, this small table has some of the most intricate carving we have ever seen, especially at the corners and the center just below the top, as well as the frieze. Along the edge of the top is a moulding remarkable for its intricacy. This table is a triumph of the carver's artistry.
Reference
Ader-Tajan, Collection Bruno Perrier Haute Epoque (Catalog for Sale at Auction on April 6, 1992 at the Hotel Drouot, Paris)
Uses
Owing to its solid walnut construction, the desk is suitable for virtually any room in a home or office and will blend well with other antique or contemporary furniture.
