Artistic Marquetry for King Louis XVI

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

A writing table stamped by Riesener comes at Sotheby's in London on July 8 (Lot 25). This small piece of furniture (77 cm high, with a top of 97 x 54 cm) is expensive: its very open estimate (1 to 2 million £) stirs attention.

Since the beginning of the year, we saw some French furniture difficult to sell or sadly unsold at far lower heights. Our table, however, has some qualities that allow it to expect a high price.

With its fine scenery of flowers inlaid in colored wood marquetry, decorated with bronze and high perched on his tapering legs, it belongs to a group of furniture for which it is known that Jean Henri Riesener realized them specifically for the king, between 1775 and 1785. It is therefore a true royal Louis XVI furniture, although this specimen was perhaps kept by Riesener for his personal use. As it is often the case, the interior fittings of the three drawers to make it a writing table are no longer in their original condition.

Leaving France after the revolution of 1848, this table was then entrusted to the care of the English aristocracy and was displayed in the most important collection of the history of European furniture, that of Mentmore Towers.

In the same sale will be presented the exceptional potpourri in Qianlong porcelain mounted in bronze during Louis XV reign that I previously discussed in the group Furnishing (Lot 64).

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

At least again a great price for a French piece of furniture of the eighteenth century, but it is a price level that can only be reached by royal models:
£ 1.7 million charge included.

[Kim Nguyen]

For art lovers I would suggest you check out Jacques Vaitty King Louis copy furniture. His work is exceptional and is the best in France. I love his furniture so much that I want to tell the world about this exceptional man. A room can be furnished and looked like from the King Louis era with fraction of the cost. Of course if you are antique lovers you may not want to even think about copied furniture. This suggestion is only for those of us who love arts but can't really spend the money for the real thing.

PS. Recently I've seen one of his pieces showed up at an antique shop. Please be careful when you buy so-called antique furniture, you should always look for the authentic pieces by studying more about King Louis XV, XVI furniture details characteristic. If you have any questions at all what you should look for, shoot me an email and I will give you our research data.