LATE 18TH CENTURY, IN THE MANNER OF CHRISTIAN MEYER

This finely inlaid games table exemplifies the flourishing popularity of marquetry furniture in late 18th century Russia, particularly in St. Petersburg. While much 18th century Russian furniture was inspired by French and German designs, Russian craftsmen were clearly looking to England when making this games table. English pattern books - and even fine pieces of English furniture - were available to St. Petersburg cabinetmakers in Russia at the time; Catherine the Great ordered commodes from John Linnell for Tsarskoe Selo in 1780 (illustrated in H. Hayward and P. Kirkham, William and John Linnell, London, 1980, vol. I, col. pl. 9 and vol. II, fig. 119). Danish-born cabinetmaker Christian Meyer became the most well-known practitioner of this highly sophisticated marquetry technique, and is known to have produced a well-documented group of magnificent games tables of this type but with richer ormolu mounts for the Imperial family in 1797.