A Russian fruitwood, sycamore, marquetry and parquetry kidney-shaped table à rognon, St. Petersburg

the top centred by a rectangular panel depicting neo-classical buildings, on a trelliswork ground within a geometric border, above a frieze drawer, on pierced shaped suppports on splayed legs joined by a later arched stretcher

Comparative Literature:
Russian furniture in the collection of the Hermitage, Moscow, 1973, pp. 88,90,100,109.
The Art of marquetry in eighteenth century Russia, Sovietskaya Russia publishers, Moscow, 1989, figs. 84 & 85-see fig.1.

This table with its distinctive kidney-shaped top and pierced stretchers is based upon French writing tables of the mid 18th century known as `tables à rognon'. Various Russian examples are recorded of similar outline, the tops inlaid with a basket of flowers or floral sprays, or as on the present example, with architectural views, see  The Art of Marquetry in eighteenth century Russia, op. cit., p. 100, fig. 113, for a related table inlaid with a basket of flowers on a trelliswork ground. Also see the same publication, op. cit., p. 88, fig. 89 & 90, for a table by Nifikor Vasilyev from St. Petersburg, dating from the late 18th century inlaid with an architectural view and another with a landscape panel, illustrated p.109, fig. 126 .

A related example on very similar supports was sold from the Collection of Alice and Murray Braunfeld, Sotheby's, New York, 21st May 2004, lot 108. Also see another related table on identical supports offered for sale in these Rooms, 16th June 1995, lot 82.