A Very Important and Exceptional Quality Late 19th Century Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze and Malachite “Four Seasons” Table Attributed to Henry Dasson

$95,000

Attributed to Henry Dasson

The beautiful rectangular malachite top above a frieze inset with gilt bronze scrolled acanthus finely detailed with trophies, figures and fruits, raised on four gilt-bronze legs modeled as caryatid figures representing all four seasons leading to tapered legs decorated with corresponding bronze casted mounts.

This is the first model, of this style table, that was created by Dasson, for the 1878 World Exhibition (Paris Exposition Universelle). It was called the ‘Four Seasons,’ or ‘Table des Quatre Saisons’, with the seasons being represented by female caryatids.  Only one other example of the ‘Table des Quatre Saisons’ is known and dated 1886.

The design is indebted to the Louis XVI style. Specifically, the scrolled frieze mounts and the sculptural half-figures recall the work of the bronziers Pierre Gouthière and François Rémond who supplied gilt-bronze mountings for furniture by Adam Weisweiler and Jean-Henri Riesener, makers to King Louis XVI.

The pictures show the table fully set up properly as a center table as well as a coffee table. It shows that the client has the option to carefully unscrew the lower leg mounts to make the height to their liken.

Henry Dasson was considered one of the finest makers of gilt bronze mounted furniture in the nineteenth Century. He established a workshop at 106 rue Vieille-du-Temple, Paris, and specialised in the production of Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI style furniture using the very finest ormolu mounts with the highest quality mercury gilding. In 1871, Dasson purchase Charles-Guillaume Winckelsen business and remaining stock.

Dasson exhibited at the 1878 and 1889 Paris Exhibition. He displayed Louis XV and XVI styles as well as pieces of his own modified eighteenth century design. The exhibits in 1878 included a table entirely in gilt bronze, purchased by Lord Dudley.

Details:
Height – Center Table: 32 inches / 81cm – Coffee Table: 21.5 inches / 55cm
Width – 38 inches / 97cm
Depth – 23 inches / 58cm