An Austrian rosewood, fruitwood, ebonised and penwork table, Viennese circa 1820

in the form of a celestial globe decorated with signs of the zodiac and opening to reveal a fitted architectural interior concealing secret compartments and drawers, raised on three curved ebonized supports with lion heads and paw feet, on a triangular concave-sided plinth

Dr. Walter Formanek Collection, Vienna
Thence by descent

Exhibited: Vienna in the Age of Schubert. The Biedermeier Interior 1815 - 1848, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1979.

Helena Hayward, World Furniture, London & New York, 1965, p.259, fig. 990 (illustrated);
Rupert Feuchtmüller / Wilhelm Mrazek, Biedermeier in Österreich, Vienna, 1963, plate 62 (illustrated and wrongly stated to be housed in the Austrian Museum of Decorative Arts);

In overall good conserved condition. There are hairline age-cracks along the joints of the veneer to the globular body. On a section of four centimeters to the semi-spherical hinged top, the signs of the zodiac have been re-painted. One brass roundel is missing to the circular frieze in the middle of the globular body. Inside a handle of one drawer is missing which can easily be replaced, the two side flaps internally which normally lift off have now been fixed and two small drawers underneath are missing but this does not detract from the piece because they are hidden by the removable tray. The paw feet were previously parcel-gilt but have been ebonised at one point. A rare and very charming piece. Recommended.
"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."

Comparative Literature:
Georg Himmelheber, Biedermeier Furniture, München 1973, fig. 13.
Heinrich Kreisel/Georg Himmelheber,Die Kunst des Deutschen Möbels, München 1986, vol. III, p. 95.
Margaret Jourdain, Regency Furniture, London 1965, p. 71, fig. 152.

This elegant and sophisticated Globustisch relates to a drawing for a similar table executed by Friedrich Paulus, a student at Carl Schmidt's drawing school in Vienna, circa 1825, which is illustrated in Himmelheber, op.cit., fig. 13. Interestingly, these marvels of the Viennese Biedermeier era probably derive from the patented 1806 designs for globe writing-tables by the London cabinet-maker George Remington, which were subsequently produced by the celebrated firm of Morgan & Sanders, see Kreisel/Himmelheber, op.cit., p.95. Not surpisingly, this unusual design proved to be much admired by esteemed patrons such as Queen Charlotte, who bought a model as birthday gift for Princess Augusta in 1810, see Jourdain, op.cit., p. 71, fig. 152.

Very closely related work tables can be found in museums around the world including the Art Institute of Chicago, Inv. Nr. 1966.383. and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Inv. Nr. 2007.102.1-12.