Attribué à Claude-Charles SAUNIER (Paris, 1735-1807... Lot n° 54

LYRE-DECORATED ENTREDEUX CONSOLE Louis XVI period - Paris, circa 1770 Satinwood with lemon tree fi nishes on oak frame; gilt bronze, brass; white Carrara marble Brass gallery replaced H. 92 cm, W. 159 cm, D. 59 cm PROVENANCE Former collection of the Château de Mérantais, Magny-les-Hameaux This console table, which comes from the Château de Mérantais in the Yvelines (fig. 1), is attributed to Claude-Charles Saunier, who was received as a master in Paris on July 31, 1752. The castle was renovated at the end of the 18th century . In a half-moon shape with three marble tops and a full back, opening to three drawers in the belt, two of which are pivoting, it presents an elegant hierarchy of its decoration in satinwood with a frame of lemon tree leaves which is enriched, on the front of the drawers and on the median part of the uprights, with a gilded bronze beaded frame. A frieze of mutules underlines the articulation with the small feet in sheath with skids. Note the keyholes with pampers on the side drawers which are different from the medallion on the front. This rather rare model was used by Claude-Charles Saunier to decorate the central drawer of a secrétaire à cylindre, now in the Musée Nissim de Camondo (fig. 2). As for the falls that adorn the uprights, they are a unique model. A tableautin with saltire quivers attached by a knotted ribbon surmounts an openwork lyre decorated with foliage and seeds. Our master cabinetmaker seems to have made this piece of furniture on order, perhaps for the owner of the Château de Mérantais. By its bronzes, our console is unique.