Lot 559

2 More

THE PROPERTY OF A LADY

A RUSSIAN ORMOLU-MOUNTED ROSEWOOD, TULIPWOOD, BOIS CITRONNIER, BOIS SATINE AND STAINED-FRUITWOOD MARQUETRY GAMES TABLE

LATE 18TH CENTURY, IN THE MANNER OF CHRISTIAN MEYER

■Post sale offsite storage
●No reserve
~Endangered/protected species
∍UK/EU consumer notice

Price Realised GBP 1,764

Estimate

GBP 3,000 - GBP 5,000

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A RUSSIAN ORMOLU-MOUNTED ROSEWOOD, TULIPWOOD, BOIS CITRONNIER, BOIS SATINE AND STAINED-FRUITWOOD MARQUETRY GAMES TABLE

LATE 18TH CENTURY, IN THE MANNER OF CHRISTIAN MEYER

Price Realised GBP 1,764

The folding top inlaid with scrolling foliage around a central medaliion with a classical garlanded urn, opening to green baize-lined interior within borders of trailing foliage and rosettes, with wells for game pieces, the frieze decorated with foliate swags centred by a rosette, above square-sectioned panelled tapering legs with square ormolu sabots
30 in. (76.5 cm.) high; 35¹⁄₂ in. (98 cm.) wide; 19./1/4 in. (49 cm.) deep, closed

Property from a Private German Collection; Christies, London, 12 November 2020, lot 40, where acquired by the present owner.

Conditions of Sale
FAQs
This lot is offered by Christie Manson & Woods Ltd

Brought to you by

Benjamin BerryHead of Sale, Associate Specialist

A Christie's specialist may contact you to discuss this lot or to notify you if the condition changes prior to the sale.

bberry@christies.com +44 (0) 20 7389 2775

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Lot Essay

This finely inlaid games table exemplifies the flourishing popularity of marquetry furniture in late 18th century Russia, particularly in St. Petersburg. While much 18th century Russian furniture was inspired by French and German designs, Russian craftsmen were clearly looking to England when making this games table. English pattern books - and even fine pieces of English furniture - were available to St. Petersburg cabinetmakers in Russia at the time; Catherine the Great ordered commodes from John Linnell for Tsarskoe Selo in 1780 (illustrated in H. Hayward and P. Kirkham, William and John Linnell, London, 1980, vol. I, col. pl. 9 and vol. II, fig. 119). Danish-born cabinetmaker Christian Meyer became the most well-known practitioner of this highly sophisticated marquetry technique, and is known to have produced a well-documented group of magnificent games tables of this type but with richer ormolu mounts for the Imperial family in 1797.