Art Noveau and Art Deco French and Austrian Tables
TABLES AND STANDS About 1890-1920
Walnut and marquetry table by Galle.
Art nouveau: Centres in Paris, Vienna, Nancy, Munich, Brussels, St Petersburg, Milan, produce tables original in design but not entirely divorced from past or devoid of exotic influences. A gueridon by Galle, though impossible to confuse with anything [...]

Antique TABLES AND STANDS About 1790-1850
Neo-classical, second phase: In late 1780s a more severe neo-classical (’Etruscan’) style emerges in France, continues after Revolution as Directoire, later becoming basis of Empire (1804-15) and Biedermeier (1815-48). Leading designers: Percier, Fontaine, Mesangere in Paris, Schinkel in Berlin. Leading makers: Jacob-Desmalter in Paris, Danhauser in Vienna.
Most important development, originating [...]

TABLES AND STANDS About 1730-1770
Above, a Portuguese side-table, made in the English style, about 1750.
Rococo: After French and Dutch success at end of 17thC in correcting baroque excesses by the use of straight, slightly tapered legs terminating in bun feet, the elongated S-shaped cabriole leg becomes, by 1730, universally adopted for most tables and stands.
Below [...]

Antique TABLES AND STANDS About 1630-1730
Portuguese side table, panels from 16thC Spanish cabinet forming the top.
Until about 1640, Louis X111 style still late-Renaissance with elaborately turned legs – a feature surviving until end of century in provincial France and other regions, e.g.
Portugal. Simultaneously, dramatic Italian baroque spreads through Europe, expressed in sculptural supports for tables [...]

TABLES AND STANDS About 1500-1630
German table on X-supports, before 1600.
Renaissance: After about 1530, mannerist influence in some examples. No dining-rooms as such in 16thC Italy – meals served wherever convenient, so many tables were still on trestles and easily dismantled; tops spread with damask cloths, oriental rugs, or covered with velvet, nailed on or draped. [...]