An Important late Louis XVI ormolu-mounted and ebonized console table, attributed to Pierre-Louis-Arnulphe Duguers de Montrosier, the mounts attributed to Pierre-Philippe Thomire circa 1799

the later rectangular molded rouge griotte, slate and verde antico marble top above a central frieze mounted with ormolu figures of a Vestal virgin, an Indian, a lion, an unicorn, a double-headed eagle, a griffin-like sea monster and other devices against a draped background, the secondary friezes of the front with ormolu eagles clutching floral swags in their beaks, the side friezes with ormolu figures of roosters and attributes of the arts and sciences amid olive branches with suspended oil lamps, front and sides punctuated with lion masks with floral wreaths in their mouths dividing the figural friezes, raised upon spiral tapering columnar legs with ormolu Ionic capitals and acanthus toupie feet, joined by an interlacing stretcher (restored) with later ormolu laurel wreath finial, on bun feet.   

Acquired by the Garde-Meuble de la Couronne in 1812 from Madame Duguers de Montrosier in partial settlement of her debts 
The duc de Morny (1811-1865), Hôtel de Lassay, Paris, probably received as a gift from his half-brother Napoleon III, circa 1852
His widow, Princess Sofia Troubetskoi, duchesse de Morny, who in 1868 remarried Don José Osorio, Duque d'Albuquerque et de Sesto
Thence by descent until sold Christie's London, June 12, 1997, lot 50 (The Property of a Nobleman) 

The later, probably 19th century, veneered marble top with scattered restored breaks, chips and small losses; most now with infills and restorations. Scattered minor age and construction cracks to wood; most now restored. Two restored breaks to interlaced stretcher. Old scattered worm damage to underside; not extensive. Minor chips/dents to wood where lion's floral wreaths touch the wood. Some further minor scattered dents. Mounts with some traces of oxidation, rubbing and surface dirt; not extensive. Finial of stretcher later. In good overall condition.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This magnificent console table is recorded in the inventory of the hôtel de Lassay following the death of the duc de Morny in 1865:

'1090...Une très grande et belle console de style Louis XVI en bois noir et bronze doré d'or mat, elle repose sur huit pieds à caneaux en spirale avec entrejambe supportant une branche de laurier, un caducée et une trompette en bronze doré. La frise est ornée de bas-reliefs avec entre-deux à têtes de lions tenant des couronnes de fleurs dans leurs gueules. Dessus en marbre griotte d'Italie avec bordure en marbre vert d'Egypte.'

Interestingly, the inventory description shows that the present later marble top and later laurel wreath on the stretcher had already been added by 1865. The trumpet and caduceus, which had also been added, are now lacking.

The duc de Morny (1811-1865) was the half-brother of the future Napoleon III and the natural son of Auguste-Charles-Joseph, comte de Flahaut de la Billarderie (1785-1870) and Queen Hortense, wife of Louis Napoléon, King of Holland. In all likelihood, the console, already in the Royal garde-meuble, was presented to the duc by his half-brother Napoleon shortly after his accession in 1852. Subsequently, as noted in an inventory drawn up ten years later, the table was inherited by the duc's daughter, the widowed Princesse Sofia Troubetskoi, duchesse de Morny. Upon her marriage to Don José Osorio, Duque d'Albuquerque et de Sesto in 1868, she moved to Madrid.

This console table may be attributed to Pierre-Louis-Arnulphe Duguers de Montrosier (1758-1806) on the basis of a design, shown here, for an almost identical, but smaller, table from his Receuil of 1806 featuring les meubles, pendules et candélabres, composés et exécutés par L. DUGUERS. Indeed, his creations were known to be très chargés de bronzes et lourds de forme. Another plate from the same Receuil shows a similar console. An ébéniste from 1799, he was partnered with the marchant-ébéniste Hutin, Boulevard des Italiens. Following his death in1806, his widow ceded certain pieces to the Garde-Meuble Impériale including une console très riche de 6 pieds de long sur huit colonnes torse, table de marbre, chapiteaux en bronze, 18 000 F, which would appear to correspond to this table. The memoire drawn up recording this transaction on Feburary 1, 1812 lists numerous other clocks, mirrors and consoles as well as a clock commemorating Frederick the Great, totaling 100,000 francs. This paid off the 100,000 franc loan taken out by Duguers shortly before his death.  

A pair of side tables of this design, undoubtedly transformed from a single table almost identical to this lot, was sold from the collection of Charles de Beistegui, Château de Groussay, Sotheby's, Poulain Le Fur, June 2, 1999, lot 223 and subsequently resold Christie's New York, May 22, 2002, lot 439. One of these tables was stamped WASSMUS for the firm Wassmus Frères, active from the Empire period up until the end of the Second Empire, who undoubtedly were responsible for the transformation. The ormolu mounts are most probably executed by Pierre-Philippe Thomire (maître-doreur in 1765).