19th Century French Mahogany Guéridon

An Early 19th Century French Mahogany Guéridon with Marble Top. This gueridon is of extremely good quality and is attributed to the master ébéniste Bernard Molitor. Molitor made similar pieces to this example for the Palace of Saint-Cloud and for the Garde-Meuble de la Couronne at the beginning of the 19th century. Featuring a white inset marble top surrounded by an ormolu gallery. The frieze has applied ormolu panel mounts and lion mask and ring decorative handles. The elegant legs have mounted centres of further ormolu and are linked together by an under tier with inset marble and an ormolu gallery. Each leg terminates in lions' paw ormolu feet. This is an exceptional piece and similar examples, attributed to Molitor, have been offered by the major auction houses in recent years such as: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2024/st-sulpice-lecrin-dun-collectionneur/an-empire-mahogany-and-brass-inlay-gueridon-circa