A mid-20th century French Louis XVI style bijouterie display table, made in the style of François Linke, dating to circa 1960–1970.
 
The table is veneered in kingwood and decorated with good-quality brass ormolu mounts, with a glazed display top opening to a blue velvet-lined interior. It retains a detailed brass key operating an unusual inverted locking mechanism, whereby the key is inserted upside down to turn and release the latch.
 
The piece is of substantial and heavy construction, with the principal carcass made from solid softwood and veneered in kingwood. When first examined, the table had been believed by previous auction houses to date from the late 19th or early 20th century. Following closer examination, we now date the piece to the mid-20th century, circa 1960–1970.
 
Although later in date, this remains a well-made and substantial decorative table. The brass ormolu mounts are of good quality, and the overall construction reflects the more expensive reproductions of important French furniture produced during the mid to late 20th century for luxury interiors. Such pieces offered the appearance and decorative character of earlier French cabinetmaking at a considerably lower cost than period originals.
 
With its glazed top and velvet-lined interior, the table provides an attractive and practical way to display, store and protect collectables, jewellery or other treasured objects while keeping them clearly visible. It also represents excellent value for someone wanting the appearance and functionality of a fine 19th-century French bijouterie table without the considerably higher price associated with an original period example, which can command many times the price.
 
Provenance
Sotheby’s, Furniture and Interior Decoration, Olympia, London, 13 January 2004. Lot 161.