{"title":"8.26 Artful Furnishings","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"sevres-porcelain-mounted-bureau-plat","title":"Sèvres Porcelain-Mounted Bureau Plat","description":"Form and function converge in this exceptional Louis XV-style bureau plat graced with eight elegant Sèvres porcelain plaques. Framing these delightful, hand-painted floral and fowl-themed plaques is a network of exquisite gilt bronze. Supporting the leather-topped table are graceful cabriole legs, a hallmark of fine Louis XV taste, that are crowned by gilt bronze caryatids and terminate in gilt bronze mounts. What makes this desk even more stunning is the inclusion of three concealed drawers that are opened only by the spring-loaded secret release mechanisms located underneath.\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nThe first porcelain mounted furnishings appeared sometime in the mid-18th century in the shops of the foremost Parisian art dealers. These furnishings successfully, and quite beautifully, married renowned Sèvres porcelain with fine furniture to create a new segment of the decorative arts that appealed greatly to the aristocracy, especially women. The Duchesse de Mazarin, Comtesse du Barry, Marie-Antoinette and the Grand Duchess Maria Feodorovna of Russia are all known to have exquisite collections of Sèvres-mounted furniture. This ornate writing desk, or bureau plat, is a stunning 19th-century example of this treasured decorative art. \n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nDemand for porcelain-mounted furniture was successfully met by Sèvres substantial team of gifted porcelain artisans, particularly flower painters, whose remarkably intricate and elegant floral motifs were the most often requested to adorn these brilliant furnishings. Today, the greatest collections of Sèvres porcelain furniture are held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, the Wallace Collection in London and the famed Louve in Paris. \n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nCirca 1880\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n53\" wide x 31\" deep x 32\" high","brand":"M.S. Rau","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41579966496903,"sku":"29-5188","price":78500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0083\/2471\/0466\/files\/29-5188_1.png?v=1717920580"},{"product_id":"porcelain-and-onyx-pedestal-by-ribot","title":"Porcelain and Onyx Pedestal by Ribot","description":"Lovely Vienna-style porcelain and creamy white onyx are combined in this wonderful decorative pedestal by Ribot. Taking the form of an architectural column, this elegant objet d'art boasts vivid hand-painting on the porcelain plaques of maidens in Greco-Roman dress. The entire piece is accentuated with fine ormolu mounts.\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nSigned \"Ribot\"\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nCirca 1900\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n44 1\/2\" high\n ","brand":"M.S. Rau","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43673032097927,"sku":"29-6339","price":34500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0083\/2471\/0466\/files\/29-6339_1_e0ecb6b3-8ca6-4e5a-b270-1804b48e5869.png?v=1769760120"},{"product_id":"french-meuble-de-milieu-by-grimard","title":"French Meuble de Milieu by Grimard","description":"Enveloped in sumptuous parquetry and doré bronze, this majestic Louis XIV-style French \u003cem\u003emeuble de milieu\u003c\/em\u003e displays the characteristics of incredible quality and masterful workmanship synonymous with the Parisian firm of Maison Grimard. Crafted of sumptuous kingwood, the parquetry door opens to reveal six compartments used to store linens, such as those for the bedroom or even the dining table. The masterful woodwork is flawlessly balanced by intricate doré bronze mounts in the form of Neoclassical floral swags, garlands, plumes and acanthus scrolls. The delicately spiraled doré bronze feet give the cabinet a sense of lightness and balance. Enhanced by a beautiful rouge Campan marble top, this cabinet is an excellent example of late 19th-century French furniture craftsmanship at its finest. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The firm of G. Grimard produced some of the finest \u003cem\u003emeubles d'art\u003c\/em\u003e, or fine art furniture, during the second half of the 19th century in Paris. A frequent and tremendously successful exhibitor at the great international exhibitions, Grimard's body of work consists primarily of Louis XVI and Neoclassical-inspired creations that consistently exhibit the highest quality workmanship. Today, his pieces are incredibly rare and highly sought after.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Circa 1880 \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 34 1\/2\" wide x 18 1\/2\" deep x 58 1\/2\" high","brand":"M.S. Rau","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41237959409799,"sku":"30-4699","price":88500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0083\/2471\/0466\/files\/30-4699_1.png?v=1717921299"},{"product_id":"napoleon-iii-ebonized-wood-pedestals","title":"Napoleon III Ebonized Wood Pedestals ","description":"This pair of Napoleon III pedestals exhibits exceptional artistry and craftsmanship. Constructed of ebonized wood, these monumental stands evoke the best elements of 18th- and 19th-century design, with doré bronze mounts, painted porcelain plaques and black Nero marble tops. Boasting an elegant neoclassical shape, these pedestals stand just over four feet tall and shimmer with mother-of-pearl inlay. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The Napoleon III period, sometimes called Second Empire, incorporated the best elements of France’s illustrious historical styles. Usually crafted of mahogany and ebony, furniture of the period was adorned with inlay of box, holly, pear and walnut woods, as well as porcelain, tortoiseshell, mother-of-pearl and ormolu ornaments. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Largely due to the influence of Emperor Napoleon III, who wished to have his name associated with the classical grandeur of Rome and cement his place in French history, the decorative style of the mid- to late-19th century is distinguished by a vast mixture of styles from previous centuries. Eclecticism reigned as craftsmen revisited the most opulent styles from decades past and created their own elaborate versions. Artisans were inspired by the Renaissance age, Boulle furniture of the Baroque period and the Louis XVI style. These pedestals represent the opulent and eclectic designs of this popular era. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Circa 1870 \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e 16 1\/4” wide x 11 3\/4” deep x 49 1\/2” high\u003c\/b\u003e","brand":"M.S. Rau","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41239088464007,"sku":"29-8344","price":34850.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0083\/2471\/0466\/files\/29-8344_1_b1dcba5a-4232-4153-8a75-3551834dc5a6.png?v=1712738634"},{"product_id":"grand-ducal-pietre-dure-console-tables","title":"Grand Ducal Pietre Dure Console Tables","description":"Among the most beautiful examples of hardstone artistry that have ever entered our collection, these important Grand Ducal pietre dure console tables are in a class all their own. Their powerful architectural elegance, impressive size and rarity make them two of the finest hardstone masterpieces ever created and quite possibly the greatest pair of pietre dure tables in existence. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e With their naturalistically rendered flowers and birds, these tabletop panels showcase the particularly fine quality craftsmanship of the Grand Ducal workshops in Florence during the first quarter of the 17th century. Grand Duke Ferdinando I de Medici, one of the most important personages in the annals of art history, established the Grand Ducal Workshop in 1588. The workshop specialized in the art of pietre dure developed from the ancient art of \u003cem\u003eopus sectile\u003c\/em\u003e, giving rise to the most luxurious and detailed examples of hardstone artistry ever produced. Its patrons were the Popes and Royals of Europe, and the quality of the objects produced in the workshop is without equal. Typically, because of the high level of workmanship the art form requires, pietre dure plaques were crafted in small sizes. The great majority of known examples of pietre dure are a fraction of the size of our grand tables. The combination of pietre dure and extensive use of other rare decorative hardstones such as lapis lazuli and pietra paesina or “ruin marble” meant that these tabletops were surely produced for a wealthy collector.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The tables are further distinguished by their superbly carved bases by Andrea Brustolon, known as the “Michelangelo of wood.” Brustolon was a Venetian wood sculptor known for his exuberant and intricate Baroque furniture. His high Baroque style was influenced by his years studying in Rome, where he was exposed to the sculpture of Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Crafted in the early 18th century, these bases display Brusolon’s unmatched talent for both figural and foliate work, combining cupids, masks and oversized scrolling vines for a grand, ornate effect. Similar furnishings by Brustolon are held in museums worldwide, including the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/rauantiques.my.salesforce.com\/sfc\/p\/A0000000JY02\/a\/8X000000MmIc\/hATOPMj3vvix4aSxXpzENGf7Wzsj31QRDHUqn0WI2q0\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eVictoria \u0026amp; Albert Museum, the National Museum of Scotland and the Metropolitan Museum of Art\u003c\/a\u003e, while the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/rauantiques.my.salesforce.com\/sfc\/p\/A0000000JY02\/a\/8X000000MmGK\/pi4g67_lTMUCO_HZOtN9.urGr0VumK1SicrNHEyVE70\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCa' Rezzonico Museum\u003c\/a\u003e in Venice features an entire room dedicated to the sculptor. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e For approximately 250 years, these tables were part of the famed Stoneleigh Abbey collection owned by the Lord Leigh family. This renowned English country estate inspired Jane Austen to write Mansfield Park. Lord Leigh eventually sold the tables at Christie’s London in 1962, and the pair have stayed in the collection of the same Florentine family who purchased them from Christie's until we recently acquired them. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Our tables are prominently pictured in the important \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/rauantiques.my.salesforce.com\/sfc\/p\/A0000000JY02\/a\/8X000000Mlwj\/SnYKYtJOxkQjno_2LYbtxflCiHCpMR5MEW7Mge.lVVs\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSaul Levy book\u003c\/a\u003e Il Mobile Veneziano del Settencento. The pietre dure plaques date circa 1625-1650. The decorative tops likely would have originally been sold with a pair of plain stone columns to display them, and Lord Leigh would have commissioned the custom bases from Brustolon circa 1714 when he added the impressive four-story fifteen-bay Baroque West Wing to Stoneleigh Abbey. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A similar single Grand Ducal tabletop is in the United Kingdom’s \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/rauantiques.my.salesforce.com\/sfc\/p\/A0000000JY02\/a\/8X000000Mm9x\/wVCGXH9l4t2lELOxw.Jtdy_bdrUGlALc0DGJG3SIrZc\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eNational Trust Collection\u003c\/a\u003e, and a smaller tabletop resides in \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/rauantiques.my.salesforce.com\/sfc\/p\/A0000000JY02\/a\/8X000000MmHX\/5DAxJGhxQkg_NFTfjITvBYqJQ82GWykmWABYTM8z0II\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBuckingham Palace\u003c\/a\u003e. The flower and bird panels in our examples relate to the famous Badminton Cabinet, also crafted in the Grand Ducal workshops. The Badminton Cabinet became the highest-priced piece of furniture to ever sell at auction in 1990 when it sold for $16.59 million. It again set the record in December 2004, this time for $36 million, meaning it simultaneously held both the first and second place records for the highest auction prices ever for any pieces of furniture. To find a pair of objects featuring this level of artistry in hardstone and wood carving, crafted by such notable artisans, of such size and intricacy, that also hail from a titled estate is nothing short of spectacular. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Pietre dure tops: circa 1625-1650\u003cbr\u003e Bases: circa 1714 \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Each table 61 1\/4\" wide x 39\" deep x 36\" high \n","brand":"M.S. Rau","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43672926027911,"sku":"31-5217","price":3450000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0083\/2471\/0466\/files\/31-5217_1.png?v=1767200809"},{"product_id":"regency-rosewood-marble-specimen-table","title":"Regency Rosewood Marble Specimen Table","description":"This exquisite Regency-period rosewood table is distinguished by its remarkable specimen top. An exceptional relic of natural history, the tabletop, created circa 1840, bears nearly 110 samples of rare marbles and hardstones from around the world. The stones are arranged in a radiating concentric circle pattern, adding visual interest. A rainbow of natural hues emanates from the inlaid hardstones, which include yellow siena, Breche d'Alep, rouge griotte, malachite, red and black porphyry, lapis lazuli, green antico, Spanish brocatello and Carrara marble, among others. Further elevated by its exquisite carved base, this table showcases the artistry of Regency furniture makers. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Furniture and \u003cem\u003eobjet d'art\u003c\/em\u003e that utilized inlaid and inset hardstones were considered one of the most prized souvenirs of the Grand Tour, from with micro mosaics and pietre dure to exquisite inlaid tables such as this. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Circa 1840 \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 28 1\/2\" high x 44\" diameter","brand":"M.S. Rau","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41238302523527,"sku":"31-0079","price":88500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0083\/2471\/0466\/files\/31-0079_1.png?v=1717921744"},{"product_id":"blue-john-table","title":"Blue John Table","description":"Blue John Table\u003cbr\u003e Circa 1840 \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e This extraordinary table is among the finest examples of rare Blue John plateaus in a single continuous slab. Elevated by a monumental mahogany base adorned with four majestic gilded-wood winged lions and intricate acanthus leaf details, the visual impact of this treasure is unmatched. The top showcases a monumental specimen of Blue John, a feat rarely achieved due to the stone's particular nature. As one of the largest examples of continuous stone, its polished surface reveals striking bands of deep purple. The acanthus leaf motif extends to the giltwood border, adorned with elegant scrolling patterns that enhance the exceptional feat of design. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Only the most gifted artisans were charged with crafting exquisite masterworks such as this, as Blue John demands a great deal of skill in its handling. A soft and brittle stone, it responds quickly to heat and must be carefully dried to retain its original color. This impressive plateau stands as an astonishing example of the rare and natural beauty of Blue John. Most examples of Blue John furniture feature small inset veneers, yet by contrast, this exceptional plateau is entirely intact. A specimen of this size would have been coveted and collected by 19th-century European royalty and aristocracy. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 30\" high x 45\" diameter","brand":"M.S. Rau","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42200711430279,"sku":"31-8741","price":268500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0083\/2471\/0466\/files\/31-8741_1.png?v=1736116613"},{"product_id":"hadrians-villa-mosaic-table","title":"Hadrian's Villa Mosaic Table","description":"Hadrian's Villa Mosaic Table\u003cbr\u003e 118-134 CE | Roman \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Mosaic tabletop with later gilt wood base \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e This extraordinary mosaic table from Hadrian's Villa stands as one of antiquity's most important surviving treasures, representing the ultimate convergence of imperial Roman grandeur and archaeological significance. Excavated from the legendary complex that housed Rome's greatest artworks, this magnificent piece bears the distinction of being walked upon by Roman emperors. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The mosaic's intricate geometric patterns showcase the supreme artistry of Roman craftsmen, featuring meticulously arranged tesserae that create a mesmerizing interplay of earth tones and geometric precision. Bordered by bands of varied marble, including precious verde antico, the composition displays repeating diamond and square motifs that demonstrate the mathematical sophistication of imperial Roman design. The later addition of its sumptuous gilt wood base elevates the ancient mosaic with neoclassical grandeur, featuring fluted columns, acanthus leaf capitals and elaborate carved moldings that perfectly complement the Roman aesthetic. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Hadrian's Villa, constructed between 118 and 134 CE, represented the pinnacle of Roman imperial achievement and served as the private retreat of one of history's most cultured emperors. Emperor Hadrian, who reigned from 117 to 138 CE, was a philosopher, poet, architect and military strategist whose villa covered an area larger than Pompeii and housed antiquity's most irreplaceable artworks. The villa's rediscovery in 1461 marked the Renaissance period's most significant archaeological find, though large-scale excavation didn't begin until Cardinal Giuseppe Alessandro Furietti's groundbreaking work in 1736-1738. Cardinal Furietti, both scholar and connoisseur, transformed several of the villa's most celebrated mosaic floor fragments into tabletops, documenting his designs in his seminal work \u003cem\u003eDe Musivis\u003c\/em\u003e (1752), where this very mosaic appears in Plate IV. Following the Cardinal's death, his heirs sold tables from his estate, which were acquired in 1765 by the renowned English architect Robert Adam, who added the elaborate gilt bases before placing them in Britain's most important homes, including Castle Howard, Holkham Hall and Syon House. Today, some examples reside in important museum collections, including the Victoria \u0026amp; Albert Museum. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Circa 118-134 CE with later gilt base \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 53 1\/4\" long x 27\" wide x 34\" high (135.26 x 68.58 x 86.36 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Provenance:\u003cbr\u003e Hadrian’s Villa, Tivoli, Rome, excavated between 1736-1738 by Cardinal Furietti\u003cbr\u003e Private collection, England\u003cbr\u003e M.S. Rau, New Orleans","brand":"M.S. Rau","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44581013094535,"sku":"32-0924","price":1250000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0083\/2471\/0466\/files\/32-0924_1_291fc085-cd55-4cd5-a844-653b3a1cc164.png?v=1778347394"}],"url":"https:\/\/rauantiques.com\/collections\/8-26-artful-furnishings.oembed","provider":"M.S. Rau","version":"1.0","type":"link"}