Louis XVI style ormolu and porcelain mounted mahogany guéridon

This remarkable guéridon, or circular side table, is crafted from mahogany, ormolu, and Sèvres style porcelain in the Louis XVI style. The tabletop is supported by a carved baluster-shaped mahogany column, which is mounted around its waisted centre with an ormolu frieze of splayed laurel leaves. The column is set atop a curved-sided triangular mahogany base, which is raised on three bun feet and encompassed with ormolu beading. The base hosts three scrolling buttresses—which support the column—that are adorned with a host of ormolu mounts, including splayed acanthus leaves, draped garlands of foliage, and rosettes.

The circular mahogany tabletop is encompassed by a continuous pierced ormolu Vitruvian scroll frieze. The top itself is centred with a shallow charger-shaped porcelain plaque painted with a portrait of King Louis XVI. The central porcelain plaque is surrounded by a corona of twelve oval plaques, each likewise set within an ormolu frame. The surrounding plaques portray associates of King Louis, such as Marie Antoinette and Madame du Gazon. The portraits are painted in the courtly style popular in France during the years of Louis’ reign.