An ebony, ebonised and marquetry work table circa 1878, by Charles-Guillaume Diehl

the lockplates, stamped Diehl a Paris/ 19-Rue Michelle, Le Compte, the lock stamped BREVETE/ SOUVENIR/ de/ l'exposition/ DE 1878/ S.G.D.G.

Similar tables are at the Musée d`Orsay, Paris, (inv. no. OAO 1459), and the Museum fur Kunstgewerbe, Frankfurt (inv. no. 13522/6443a).

Margit Bauer e.a., Europaische Mobel von der Gotik bis zum Jugendstil, Museum fur Kunsthandwerk, Frankfurt 1976, no. 246.

Daniel Alcouffe e.a., Le Arti decorative alle grandi esposizioni universali 1851-1900, Milan, 1988.

Odile Nouvel-Kammerer, Le Mobilier francais, Napoléon III, Années 1880, Paris 1996.

Philippe Thiébaut e.a., Un ensemble Art Nouveau. La Donation Rispal, Paris 2006

 

This piece is overall in good condition. The colour and patination are both good.There is some minor warping to the top consistent with age. There is an old repair adjacent to the left hand hinge. There are some minor losses to timbers inside. Minor losses to the paint on the painted mounts. Some minor age cracks to veneers on the frieze and base. General minor old marks and scratches. Mirror to the underside of the lid chipped and possibly a replacement. The silk lining is stained in paces and is also probably replaced.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Charles-Guillaume Diehl was born in 1811 in Steinbach, the Grand Duchy of Hesse and moved to Paris as a young man where he opened a workshop. From 1853 to 1885 he lived in Rue Michel-le-Comte. He was an inventive ébéniste who exhibited at various expositions including the Paris Exhibtion of 1855, the Industrial Arts in 1861, the Paris Exhibition of 1867 and the Vienna Exhibition of 1873, where he showed a buffet now in the collection of the Musée d`Orsay.

The model for the present table was executed for the Exposition Universelle of 1878 in Paris.

Both the composition and style of the table hearld the Art Nouveau taste. The delicate marquetry shows the typical botanical repertoire whose realism is accentuated by the naturalistically modelled small animals and foliage applied to the the table, meant to enhance the illusionist effect.

Distinctly varying from the aesthetic conventions that dominated the decorative arts at the time, Diehl`s table is very much avant-garde for 1878.

For comparison see an almost identical table sold Sotheby`s Amsterdam, Furniture, Clocks & Decorative Arts 7th April 2009, lot 408.