Jean-François Leleu, maître in 1764.

This tric-trac table, or table à jeux, is a perfect illustration of the understated oeuvre of one of the period's most innovative ébénistes, Jean-François Leleu (maître in 1764). His furniture is distinct for its simplicity, architectural lines and outstanding craftsmanship. Notable commissions from Leleu include the refurbishment of the Palais-Bourbon in Paris for Louis-François de Bourbon, Prince de Conti. The present example relates to a games table attributed to his fellow ébéniste, and former colleague in Jean-François Oeben's atelier, Jean-Henri Riesener, now in the Musée Carnavalet, Paris (A. Forray-Carlier, Le Mobilier du Musée Carnavalet, Paris, 2000, pp. 176-177, fig. 65). It further relates to a writing table by Riesener in the Musée du Louvre (D. Alcouffe, et al., Furniture Collections in the Louvre, Volume I, Paris, 1993, p. 176, no. 91). Further examples by Riesener are illustrated in J. Nicolay, L'Art et La Manière des Maîtres Ebénistes Français au XVIIIè Siècle (Paris, 1956, pp.200-201, figs. u, v and y), while a further tric-trac table by Riesener sold Christie's, Paris, 4 May 2011, lot 428 (EUR 37,000 including premium). A further related table a jeux attributed to Leleu, sold Sotheby's New York, 'Property from the Collections of Lily & Edmond J. Safra', 18 October 2011, lot 729 ($110,500 including premium).