Gueridon table; France, Empire period c.1800.

Gueridon table; France, Empire period c.1800.
Veneer and patinated mahogany, gilt bronze and marble top.
It has slight damage to the table top.
Measurements: 80 x 89,5 x 89,5 cm.
This guéridon table, made in France around 1800, is an exponent of Empire period furniture, a period marked by the influence of neoclassical aesthetics and the grandeur associated with Napoleonic power. Crafted from a combination of patinated mahogany veneer, gilded bronze and an elegant marble top, the piece reflects the majesty and refinement characteristic of this style.
The table's structure is rotund and solemn, supported by three legs that evoke imperial iconography with motifs inspired by classical antiquity. Each of them is ornamented with lion heads sculpted in patinated bronze, a symbol of strength and authority recurrent in Napoleonic decoration. These finely modeled paws descend to culminate in feline claws, reinforcing the sensation of solidity and power that emanates from the piece.
The circular frieze, made of deep reddish mahogany, is embellished with gilded bronze appliqués, including laurel wreaths and military-inspired decorative elements, in clear reference to the glory of the Empire. On top, the dark, veined marble top provides a noble and durable surface that enhances the richness of the materials and gives the table an imposing sculptural presence.
This guéridon is not only a functional object, but also a testament to the magnificence of early 19th century French design. Its style synthesizes the ideals of the time: grandeur inherited from Rome and Greece, structural solidity and an aesthetic that glorifies power and hierarchy. Pieces like this one were common in the salons and residences of the Napoleonic elite, where they served both as a support for decorative objects and as a symbol of status and refinement.