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Posted 5 months ago
PhilDavidA…
(96 items)
Table by Bernard Molitor, Empire Period, 1805-1810
Bernard Molitor only made furniture that was one of a kind, if he made a piece it was for a special client. This has some of the same bronze griffin mounts that are in the collection of the Royal Palace in France. The legs are made of Bronze also and have an original patina in excellent shape, Very dark brown, almost black, but easy to see all the detail on the figures. In the sun, the Vestil Virgin figures are a beautiful greenish brown patina. The hooded Vestil Virgins were priestesses of Vesta, goddess of the hearth. They cultivated the sacred fire that was not allowed to go out.
I bought this piece well over 10 years ago from Sothebys, and still to this day have never discovered its well guarded secrets. It was made around 1810. The Veneer is in pretty good shape for its age, but the wood underneath betrays its real age of 200+ years. It has 2 deep etched owner brands in the wood, " d P" which is the cipher for du Pont, possibly owned by the du Pont minister who escaped from France and returned to America to escape retribution from Napoleon. Under the fossil marble top is the label " The Collection of John E. du Pont ". The table he probably obtained from his parent's collection and put it up for auction.
Around 1992, after I bought the table, or Gueridon as it is called, it was featured in the book called " Molitor, Ebiniste from the Ancien Regime to the Bouron Restoration " (spelling is correct), by Ulrich Leben, page 170, illustration #181 and cataloged on page 201 at the back of the book.
Catalog #134, Gueridon attributed to Molitor, 1805-1810
Mahogany and Patinated Bronze, 81 X 79 cm size, Provenance, Sold at Sothebys, NYC March 30, 1990, lot 159.
Every day that I am in this table's presence, I am happy !!~
French Style FurnitureThe 17th and 18th century French monarchy—partial to flamboyant, florid exc…
Beautiful Phil:)
Hello Phil, goodness this is terrific. I can feel the aura through the internet!
You have a beautiful home...think I'll move in ; ))
Well Done............
So you're into wood work PhilD. My mind's vision of you since getting on CW, is of a figure hanging onto the radiator cap of a rare car while the owners sped away trying to shake you off the hood.LOL
Fantastic....!
Love the table ! Did you ever consider having it read? Love the whole room! Love what you had to say / teach about it!
well i could have figured this one was your post -- ya did it again kid -- now don't try and tell me you found this beauty in a back alley -- have a great weekend phil
Thanks Lauren, no, I never even knew there was such a thing as reading an antique, but sounds like fun. Thanks Epson, one of my crown jewels. Thanks Inky, Blunderbuss, Roycroftbooks, Amber Rose and Sean for the comments, and thank you for the loves guyfrmatl, rocker-sd, walksoftly, czechman, musikchoo, bratjdd, Rob, vetraio50, Estater, mustangtony, kerry10456, official fuel, thanks again !~Phil.
Phil that is the most beautiful table I have ever seen, really, I love it, not too bright and the bronze! WOW I could sit and look at it for hours!! It will bring more than happiness to you. It will also bring peace!
Thanks Toracat, yes I can look at it for hours when I sit in my living room, which I seem to only use when I read, as it has no tv or computer, just sitting and looking at the bronze ladies makes me happy.
love the photo update on your post -- had to take a second look to see if that "masked bandit" was really you
good lord phil -- i believe the joke is on me -- looking at that room -- $65,000 for a 1929 Rene Lalique Hood emblem mascot Epsom horse head -- is walking around change for you -- i need to start pursing more back alleys :):):) --
epson, We both need to walk a lot to find enough for the Epsom horse head, and since my mascot aquisitions that are on my list to find have escalated to a particular French type and period it is likely the Lalique does not interest me in the least really, unless it fell in my lap, and then I would probably sell it for what I really love and want. Unfortunately at a large sale coming up Monday there are a lot of mascots that I like, most are 6-10 thousand chump change and others can go higher, buying from Bonhams can be very expensive.
Sotheby's table...6-10 chump change...
I believe I hear the theme song from the Jeffersons paying in the background. ;)
Seriously, though, wonderful table.
One of my favorite and rarest mascots of all time was bought for very little money as it was at an auction that was very obscure without advertising. So I am not obsessed with the money, but the final product cogito, thank you.
Oh, I know. I was just poking fun.
hi phil -- you changed your pic again -- did you catch the discovery channel last night on the packard cars -- they also had a good series on henry ford -- they had the epson horse hood ornament that i showed you on ebay for $65,000 -- which they did not get -- never knew the horse sat on a woody station wagon -- was very interesting -- i have a lot more respect for the packard -- i can see my knowledge was limited on that company -- hope all is well --
That is truly beautiful, what a piece to cherish.
I forgot to add, I love the story that goes along with it.
Your collection is magnificent. I would love to see more pictures of the different rooms. I worked in one of the du Pont mansions back in 1972. It was turned over to NyU and became a think tank
http://www.pbase.com/jimrob/deseversky
Words can't describe the beauty!
Thank you SpunkysMom, I feel the same every day when I look at it.
Thanks pops 52 for the love.
Thank you toracat and cogito for the love !~
Much love back to you artislove and nldionne, thank you for the love !~