A Napoleon III (1852-70) Ebonised Boulle & A La Reine Centre Table with a secret drawer. A fine example of ‘A La Reine’ furniture, which is a technique of boulle marquetry composing of  an alternating pattern of inlaid mother of pearl and brass flowers and circles. ‘A La Reine’ (‘to the queen’) is luxury French furniture created in the ‘ Queens Style’ by master French craftsmen for royals & aristocrats.   Decorated throughout with ormolu mounts and on each leg there stands out ormolu mounted figures surrounded in foliage, in which the faces look inwards towards each over. The secret drawer is large and has no lock which helps to conceal the drawer and give the hidden effect.