A table centrepiece or tray by Abraham Roentgen
Solid mahogany and mahogany veneer, cherry, kingwood with gilt bronze and brass mounts. Of serpentine shape, resting on four gilt bracket feet and with curved handles on either side. The central panel entirely inlaid with rhombus shaped marquetry inlay, divided by fine crosswise bands of kingwood veneer framed by a borderline of concentric cherry wood veneer with a fine band of brass stringing. The mahogany veneer of the rounded edges inset with engraved brass cartouche motifs. With handles: H c. 5.5, W 57.5, D 40.7 cm.
Neuwied, around 1750 - 60.
The top of this exceedingly rare small piece of furniture is decorated in an identical fashion to the important multi-functional table in private ownership in Berlin which has been published by both Fabian and Greber. The corners of this table are highlighted by comparable/ or identically engraved brass cartouches and the rhombus mosaic is also bordered by brass stringing. It is conceivable that both pieces were produced at the same time.
Certificate
Dr. Dietrich Fabian, 14th January 1997.
Provenance
Private collection of Dr. Dietrich Fabian.
Private Collection, South Germany.
Private Collection, Central Rhine Region
Literature
For more on the mosaic, see: Greber, Abraham und David Roentgen. Möbel für Europa, vol. 2, Starnberg 1980, illus. 73 f.
Cf. The marquetry of the multi-functional table, which was lost in the war from the private ownership of Dr. Huth, in: Fabian, Abraham und David Roentgen. Das noch aufgefundene Gesamtwerk ihrer Möbel- und Uhrenkunst in Verbindung mit der Uhrmacherfamilie Kinzing in Neuwied. Leben und Werk, Verzeichnis der Werke, Quellen, Bad Neustadt 1996, no. 4).