Pair of 19th-Century Italian Giltwood Console Tables with Rouge Marble Tops

Pair of 19th-Century Italian Giltwood Console Tables with Rouge Marble Tops. Mid 19thc

An impressive and unusually large pair of 19th-century Italian giltwood console tables, each retaining a richly figured rouge marble top above an exceptionally decorative carved and gilded base. The long rectangular marble tops, with their attractive natural white veining, sit above substantial moulded friezes enriched with continuous scrolling foliage and classical ornament. The architectural bases are supported on two boldly conceived tapering legs, extensively carved with acanthus leaves, husks, floral swags, scrollwork and classical foliate motifs. Particularly striking are the upper sections of the legs, which take the form of elaborate architectural capitals, giving the tables considerable presence while their relatively shallow 44 cm depth makes them particularly suitable for positioning against a wall. The gilt surfaces have mellowed attractively with age, displaying variations in tone, rubbing and areas of darker patination that give the pair the character expected of 19th-century giltwood rather than the uniform appearance of later gilding.

These are substantial statement pieces. The fact that they survive as a true pair considerably enhances their decorative appeal: they would work particularly well facing one another in a grand entrance hall, positioned on opposing walls of a drawing room, or flanking architectural features in a large country-house interior.