30 
House & Garden 
FRENCH TABLES and SEATING FURNITURE of the 17th CENTURY 
Sturdiness of Structure, Varied Material and a Great Delicacy of Ornamentation 
Characterized this Epoch 
H. D. EBERLEIN and ABBOTT McCLURE 
Commode of vari-col- 
ored marqueterie, Louis 
XVI. Rosenbach Galleries 
( Left) An armoire of 
carved oak made in the 
style of Louis XV 
Black lacquer, slant top 
secretaire designed in the 
style of Louis XV 
(Right) Falling front sec¬ 
retary with marqueterie 
and ormolu. Louis XVI 
divided into these two principal types: 
(1) The tables with trestle or truss sup¬ 
ports at the ends, and 
(2) Tables with pillar or colonette legs. 
(1) The trestle or truss type of table de¬ 
rived its inspiration from the 15th and early 
16th Century tables of similar form in Italy, 
and received a strong impetus from the de¬ 
signs of du Cerceau, whose Italian training 
was responsible for his designs. The truss 
and supports were generally elaborately carved 
and often assumed the shapes of human fig¬ 
ures, animals, or grotesque mythological crea¬ 
tures which were further embellished with the 
customary Renaissance details. Between the 
truss and supports, or rather between the run¬ 
ner feet on which the trestles or trusses rested, 
was a broad and heavy stretcher, oftentimes 
resting upon the floor and really forming a 
F RENCH tables and seating furniture of 
the 16th and 17th Centuries have quite as 
much of a lesson for us as has the wall furni¬ 
ture of the same date. From a study of its 
forms and characteristics we may gain just as 
many valuable and practical suggestions as are 
to be derived from the contemporary cabinet¬ 
work. 
Elegance and richness may be either simple 
in presentation or intricate. In tables, seating 
furniture, and cabinetwork alike, of the 16th 
and 17th Centuries, we shall find both phases. 
One or two of the illustrations show pieces in 
which rich materials and intricate adornment 
have been managed with admirable restraint 
and dignity; other examples show the same 
qualities expressed in simple fashion and in 
less costly materials. 
The tables of the 16th Centurv mav be 
Empire mahogany console with brass 
mounts and mirror in back 
Sturdiness of structure and delicacy of ornaments are found in the 
Louis XVI example of mahogany commode with gilt bronze mounts 
Marqueterie of vari-colored woods and ormolu mounts used with 
restraint characterize this commode in the style of Louis XV 
