Small Marquetry Writing Table Attributed To Topino, Louis XVI Period

Small oval writing table, in marquetry of garlands of foliage and flowers, opening to a drawer forming a writing desk, with a sliding shelf, resting on uprights joined by a spacer shelf, white marble top with openwork gallery.

Attributed to Charles Topino. Louis XVI period.

Height: 72.5 cm; Width: 46 cm; Depth: 35 cm.

Received master in 1773 and established in Paris rue du Faubourg-Saint-Antoine, he specialized in the production of small, light furniture, with "Chinese-style" decoration with marquetry representing teapots, vases, or even garlands and bouquets of flowers. His models were very successful in the years 1775-1780. He was notably the author of a particular piece of furniture, an oval-shaped "happiness of the day". The arrival of the French Revolution precipitated his bankruptcy in 1789.

Bibliography:

Sylvain Barbier Sainte Marie, Charles Topino around 1780 1742-1803, Paris, 2005, Éditions de l'Amateur (The same decoration of garlands of flowers and foliage is found on several pieces of furniture stamped by Charles Topino. A pair of comparable oval tables (illustration, p. 17) have a similar decoration.)

Comte de Salverte, Les ébénistes du XVIIIe siècle : leurs œuvres et leurs marques, 1985, F. de Nobele Jean Nicolay, L'art et la manière des maîtres ébénistes français au XVIIIe siècle. Tome I, Pygmalion, 1976. Several pages are devoted to Topino: pp. 455, 456, and 473, and 34 pieces of furniture are represented on pp. 460-468.

Geoffroy de Bellaigue, The James Rothschild Collection at Waddesdon Manor, vol. II, p. 880-881 Pierre Verlet, 18th Century Furniture. II. Cabinetmaking, PUF, 1956: A “bonheur du jour” by Topino is presented pl X

Some auction results:

Sotheby's in New York, May 20, 2010, lot 79,Christie's in New York, October 20, 2021, lot 72 (sold for $9,735)

Sotheby's in Monaco, Pair of “bonheur du jour”, June 23-24, 1985, 1,100,000 FRF ($118,085 - $ of the time)Christie's in New York, May 27, 1999, table, $79,500

Other references:Topino's furniture is present in the following museums:
Cincinnati Art Museum: Table in mahogany and fruitwood veneer, brass gallery, gilt bronze mounts
Paris, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, “Bonheur du jour”; oval "chiffonnière" table,
Paris, Nissim de Camondo Museum: heart-shaped dressing table; oval "chiffonnière" table; round "chiffonnière" table