Antique 18th Century Russian Rosewood Marquetry Games Table by Christian Meyer

Description

A highly important late 18th century antique Neoclassical Russian rosewood, tulipwood, bois citronnier, bois satine and fruitwood marquetry games table, … more A highly important late 18th century antique Neoclassical Russian rosewood, tulipwood, bois citronnier, bois satine and fruitwood marquetry games table, attributed to Christian Meyer, circa 1790.

This exquisite table is typical of the extremely high-quality marquetry inlaid furniture produced by St. Petersburg cabinet makers in the second half of the 18th century.
The folding top inlaid with scrolling ribbons around a central medallion with a classical garlanded hanging 'jewel' motif, opening to red baize-lined interior within borders of trailing flowering foliage, with wells for game pieces. The frieze decorated with foliate swags and centered by rosettes on the front & sides, raised square-sectioned paneled tapering legs.
The red baize playing surface has just been replaced in Bloomsbury's professional workshops. The table is in very good conserved antique condition and is ready to grace your home.
Provenance; The table was the property of a family of diplomats from the early 19th century and has passed through family descent since then. By family repute the table has always been attributed to Christian Meyer.

Christian Meyer was one of those highly skilled cabinet makers, a German born craftsman and worked as the court cabinet maker, in 1795 he supplied a pair of similar quality marquetry games tables to Catherine the Great's private apartments at the Winter Palace. These tables sold at Sotheby's in 2011 for almost $500,000. less