A mahogany, marquetry and gilt-bronze meuble à hauteur d'appui, by Gervais Durand Paris circa 1880

with a rouge royale marble top incorporating 18th century panels by David Roentgen, stamped G.DURAND

The marble with some minor cracks and chips which are hardly noticeable. The right hand panel with some unobtrusive filled splits and a few minor marks. In very good restored 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. 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."

This unusual piece combines the influence in its design and superb marquetry of two of the leading furniture makers in the 18th century-Adam Weisweiler and David Roentgen. The form of the piece with its architectural outline, two doors flanked by fluted freestanding tapering columns and marble top within a gilt-bronze order is typical of the oeuvre of Adam Weisweiler at the end of the 18th century. 

The characteristic so called 'rose-marquetry motif' was used by the Roentgen workshop with different variations. One of the earliest examples (circa 1773) is the 'Rosenbureau' in the Residenzmuseum in Munich. Although it is known that several marqueteurs worked in the Neuwied workshop and that Janarius Zick (1730-1797), provided Roentgen with designs for figurative marquetry, the designer of this typical 'flower and ribbon' marquetry introduced in the 1770's, remains unknown to date.

David Roentgen (1743-1807), ébéniste-mécanicien du Roi et de la Reine 1785, Master in Paris 1780
David Roentgen was the most celebrated German cabinet-maker and certainly one of the most skilled ébénistesof the late 18th century. David was determined to develop the family business and travelled to Paris, moving in with Brébant, a marchand-miroitier in rue Saint-Martin, to whom he entrusted the sale of his furniture. He set up a shop in Paris around 1781, which enabled him to develop an international clientèle, Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, the Comte d' Artois, Catherine of Russia and Frederick the Great were amongst his illustrious clients who praised the two main qualities of his furniture: beautifully executed pictorial marquetry en camaieu with trompe l'oeil of flowers and detailed figures and the clever use of mechanical devices.

Gervaise-Maximilien-Eugène Durand:
Durand was born in Paris on 30th July 1839 and began work in 1870 at 12 rue de La Cerisaie. He later moved to the more fashionable rue St. Antoine. He was the first of three generations of highly sucessful cabinet makers, exhibiting widely at the International Exhibitions .At the 1889 Exhibition in Paris, he was commended as, "un ébèniste aussi habile que modeste, qui expose pour la premième fois des meubles de premier ordre, dont il est à la fois le dessinateur et l'exécutant; il marche sur la voie tracée par les maîtres tels que Beudeley et Dasson."