A charming and rare Napoleon III period salon table crafted from ebonized wood and lacquered papier-mâché.
This elegant center table is distinguished by its scalloped, lacquered black papier-mâché top—featuring a recessed center—adorned with a delicate medallion depicting a woman’s portrait, surrounded by gilded arabesques and scrolling foliage. A truly remarkable and rare feature is that the table comes with its complete set of nine matching original lacquered papier-mâché coasters, each finely decorated with *chinoiserie* and Asian-inspired scenes highlighted in gold.
The piece rests on a black lacquered wood base designed to imitate bamboo and joined by an X-shaped stretcher—a style reflecting the fascination with exoticism and the Far East that was highly fashionable during the Second Empire.
France
Napoleon III period
Dimensions: 85 cm x 66 cm
Height: 49 cm
