An Italian neoclassical carved giltwood demi-lune side table, probably Roman, late 18th century

Sotheby's, London, Important French and Continental Furniture, 12 December 2001, lot 170.

The present console table likely originates from Rome in the late 18th century, and its elegant design with a Greek key frieze, scrolled legs and paw feet can be brought closer to a group of Roman furniture pieces executed in the last quarter of the 18th century (illustrated in Alvar González-Palacios, Arredi e ornamenti alla corte di Roma, 2004, pp.215-221). Interestingly, many of these examples are inspired by the designs of Giovanni Battista Piranesi's recueil Diverse maniere d'adornare i cammini ed ogni altra parte degli edifizi (1769), see especially a console table ending on scrolled legs and large paw feet, illustrated op.cit., p.217.