Small antique occasional table with marble top

This little table once had rather grand ambitions. (Or pretentions, it depends on your point of view)

It was meant to resemble one of those exquisite 17th-century French tables, full of all the decorative flourishes that come with them. And for a brief moment, it probably did, when it was brand new, sometime around 1890.

But the people who made it,  or had it made,   simply didn’t have the knowledge, the skill, or perhaps the budget to carry it off in quite the same way as the originals seen at the French court in the 17th and 18th centuries.

The gilding is painted rather than true gold leaf, the legs are nicely curved but not quite as refined as they might have been. In short, perhaps a little more Hyacinth Bucket than Louis XV.

And yet… it is wonderfully charming. It has clearly had a full life, but it still brims with character and lovely details. Just look at how neatly the marble top sits within the gently shaped frame — really rather delightful. But also look very carefully at the peeling paint and the missing chips in the woodcarving before you buy it. Because it could be that those things start to irritate you in the long run and that would be a pity 

It is perfect beside a chair, to hold a glass of wine or a cup of tea. It would also work beautifully next to a bed. So yes, it may once have had certain pretensions, but those are long behind it now, and I suspect it would be quite pleased to find a new home.

It can be shipped, and I will do my very best to pack it carefully so it arrives safely. That said, it might be wiser to collect it or have it delivered for a small and reasonable fee. Entirely up to you.

Dimensions: height 48 cm (approx. 18.9 inches), width (at the widest point of the legs) 37 cm (approx. 14.6 inches), top 40 x 40 cm (approx. 15.7 x 15.7 inches)