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Lot Essay
Although undoubtedly inspired by the Louis XV 'pittoresque' style popularised by Pierre Contant d'Ivry (1698-1777) and Nicolas Pineau (d. 1754), the present console table relates to a group of consoles executed by Louis Roger and Michel Fressancourt (1700-1764) probably to designs by Philippe de la Guépières. As Court Architect to Duke Carl Eugèn von Württemberg (1728-1793), he was responsible for the refurbishment and extension of Schloss Ludwigsburg, the Duke's summer palace near Stuttgart.
The elaborately-carved opposing C-scrolled pierced legs, distinctive asymmetric rocaille cartouche and overall stylistic approach adopted here are reminiscent of the oeuvres of the two émigrés craftsmen at Ludwigsburg. Both can be credited for the execution of a number of richly-carved consoles in the so-called 'Altes Corps de Logis', the designs for which were probably supplied by de la Guépières (ill. in B. Franz, Die Französischen Möbel des 18. Jahrhunderts in Schloss Ludwigsburg, Schwetzingen, 1998, pp. 146-166, figs. 29-34). A related console table attributed to Louis Roger and possibly executed after designs by de la Guêpières was sold Christie's, London, 5 July 2001, lot 135.
The Duke is also recorded as having acquired a significant number of pieces in Paris between 1748 and 1791, mainly for Ludwigsburg. He also acquired French furniture and objets d'art through Baron von Thun, his ministre plénipotentiaire in the French capital, whose name appears in the Livre-Journal of the celebrated marchand-mercier Lazare Duvaux in regards to purchases of Sèvres porcelain.
The elaborately-carved opposing C-scrolled pierced legs, distinctive asymmetric rocaille cartouche and overall stylistic approach adopted here are reminiscent of the oeuvres of the two émigrés craftsmen at Ludwigsburg. Both can be credited for the execution of a number of richly-carved consoles in the so-called 'Altes Corps de Logis', the designs for which were probably supplied by de la Guépières (ill. in B. Franz, Die Französischen Möbel des 18. Jahrhunderts in Schloss Ludwigsburg, Schwetzingen, 1998, pp. 146-166, figs. 29-34). A related console table attributed to Louis Roger and possibly executed after designs by de la Guêpières was sold Christie's, London, 5 July 2001, lot 135.
The Duke is also recorded as having acquired a significant number of pieces in Paris between 1748 and 1791, mainly for Ludwigsburg. He also acquired French furniture and objets d'art through Baron von Thun, his ministre plénipotentiaire in the French capital, whose name appears in the Livre-Journal of the celebrated marchand-mercier Lazare Duvaux in regards to purchases of Sèvres porcelain.