A gilt-bronze mounted amaranth, sycamore and stained wood mechanical table, Louis XVI, by Jean-Henri Riesener

the sliding trellis parquetry top with a pierced gallery, above a central frieze drawer with writing slope flanked by two side compartments,  with acanthus leaves, beading and foliage, on tapered legs ending in cast foliate feet  

- Probably Redenham House, Hampshire, thence John Pollen 1st bt. of Redenham (c.1740-1814), thence by descent;
- Sale Christie's London, 4 June 2014, lot 542

Related literature:
- D. Meyer, Le mobilier de Versailles XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles, t. 1, Dijon, 2002, n. 63, pp. 244-246.
- P. Verlet, Le mobilier royal français, meubles de la Couronne conservés en France, Paris, 1955, ill. 17, pp. 93-95.

The illustration of the catalogue is accurate Good overall condition. There are the inevitable minor dents, marks and scratches due to age and use. The table has been recently perfectly restored and a restoration file can be provided on request. There are stains and surface sractches to the green leather of the writing board. There are some modern screws on the upper part of the feet, under the gilt-bronze ornaments. The hinges and the lock of the drawer are later. The back notches of the writing board are later. There are some modern screws on the upper part of the feet, underneath the gilt-bronze ornaments. Very attractive model 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."

Jean-Henri Riesener, cabinetmaker, received Master in 1768.

As successor to Jean-François Oeben (1720-1763), Jean-Henri Riesener (1734-1806) faithfully continued to produce furniture with elaborate mechanisms. The principle of the sliding tray revealing a writing desk, with compartments and drawers as seen in the present lot, had already been produced on the mechanical table called Table des Muses in 1771 and delivered to the Intendant du Garde-Meuble de la Couronne Pierre-Elisabeth de Fontanieu (château de Versailles, inv. T 510 c, fig. 2). Riesener produced several writing tables, including the dressing table delivered to Marie-Antoinette at the Tuileries in 1784, and today placed in the Château de Versailles and part of the Louvre Museum Collection (T 551 c, fig. 3 and 4). It has the exact same lozenge parquetry and feet. There are also tables by this renowned cabinetmaker, of similar size, but with different decorations, including the writing table of Madame Elisabeth, Louis XVI's sister, for her Versailles apartment, today in the Philadelphia Museum of Art (1939-41). 9), and Marie-Antoinette's table at Marly, delivered in 1781 (C. Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon, inv. 673).

The technique of lozenge or trellis parquetry was much used by Riesener, who developed it on several of his creations, especially on furniture delivered to the small apartments of Queen Marie-Antoinette's at the Palais des Tuileries in 1784. Three of these pieces of furniture, not stamped, are now in the Louvre Museum: a chest of drawers (Inv OA 10276), a bedside table (Inv OA 10307) and a bureau cylinder (Inv OA 5226). There is also the small writing table of circa 1780 made for the Palais des Tuileries and then used at the Château de Saint-Cloud (Louvre museum, OA 5481), and Marie-Antoinette's travelling box (Château de Versailles, inv.V 6102) using the same sycamore, amaranth and satinwood parquetry. Two years after the creation of the Tuileries ensemble, Riesener used this lozenge motif for his famous delivery of veneered mother-of-pearl furniture for the Queen's boudoir at the Château de Fontainebleau (a secrétaire inv. V 3582 and a table OA 9467).

The chiseled and gilded bronze frieze with alternating fluting and foliage is also a hallmark of Riesener's productions. This frieze is visible on other pieces of furniture such as the console at Versailles (inv.V. 4723) and the writing table delivered in 1783 for the Salon de la Maison de la Reine at the Petit Trianon (Inv.V 2011.15).

This writing table probably belonged to the Pollen family and was perhaps acquired by John Pollen, 1st Baron of Redenham (around 1740-1814) and housed in the family home in Redenham, Wiltshire. He was an important magistrate from Hampshire, like his son, Sir John Walter, 2nd (1784-1863).