Featured A Hunting We Will go

One of the things I love about Victorian furniture is that you can study it for 15 years, and still be totally surprised by something out of left field.

Take this table, for instance. I bought it at an estate sale here in the U.S. Midwest this weekend; it came from a 6,000 square foot Italianate mansion, the best of the best as far as I'm concerned. I was drawn by the craftsmanship, but knew nothing about the style. I bought it anyway, and it wasn't cheap, especially here in the age of brown furniture depression.

It was refinished about 25 years ago, and that's all I heard about it. Nothing about age, no provenance of any sort. The carving is accomplished and very robust. Somehow, doing research on the internet, I came across French Hunting Tables as a type. Ca. 1870s-80s.....very....robust! The only difference is that mine is a round parlor type with a marble insert, 32" wide. Most French Hunting Tables are much larger, like 45" wide, and some have leaves. They're meant to be dining tables, that's the "hunt" connection.

So do I have a unique specimen here? I'm satisfied that it's French in the style of Hunt Tables ca. 1875 Those are dragons, incidentally, around the pedestal. Here's a Hunt Table that is not dissimilar (though larger) on E-Betray, if you're willing to clickey:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/313598227650?hash=item4903e934c2:g:hpkAAOSw2kJg6PN2




How much would you insure it for?

 

My first thought when I saw it was "Hong Kong?" but those legs might be dolphins instead of dragons and the marble top says Italy. It also says I'm wildly guessing.

 

It is lovely, but I have no idea about furniture so I will wait for others to chime in. Enjoy your new treasure.

 

Stunning Table and seems to have been well cared for with a rich patina, and i love the french continental ormlu porcelain clock, it goes well with the marble top table.

 

My grandparents had a side table near their couch that sort of looked like yours. It was maybe just in that style. Legs were different. She had a gigantic lamp on that table with pulls to turn on and off. I wish I had asked my grandmother more questions about more things before she passed on.

 

It might have been a Louis XVI style table, as they also can have a similar look to this table. I have a Louis XVI Oval shaped side table with a Marble top in gilt and a Louis XVi chair to go with it. They are so very elegant. I have to say Ghoppers table is impressive. Mine is most likley a reproduction from early 20th century circa 1900 as the style became very popular in the early 1900's.

 

How much did you pay for it?

 

Well, if I take the standard approach of insuring for twice what I paid for it, then it would be somewhere not terribly short of $2K. However, for the French Hunt Tables I've seen, asking prices tend to be $3K to $6K. Then again, this is a parlor version, not a dining version, so it may be FAR MORE valuable because of it's uniqueness, or perhaps LESS valuable because of it being more of a "sport."

So I could quit overthinking and settle on $2K, but I could not buy another one for that.

 

I think they are meant to be Hunting Dogs and not dragons. On the other French hunting tables they are dogs. Maybe this one is different. I did find very similar tables and they are like yours parlour or side tables and they Sell for $6- $7k so i would insure this for $7000.

 

This one that is similar to your claims to be black forest wood. The carved figures are of hunting dogs or on your table perhaps foxes, it is described as French Hunting table. $6,500


https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/t...t-table-black-forest-dog-hound/id-f_24697342/

$6,800

https://www.beauchampantiques.com/inventory/mid-19th-century-antique-french-hunt-table/

 

Never been a big furniture fan

But I do like the feet, like a poised ninja like stance

 

Cool, thanks Francisco!

 

WELL, Lookkee you, Mr.G!!! You Actually DO have more room in your fully and wonderfully furnished home!!!!!! NICE Purchase!!!! And it looks Gorgeous!!!

 

Lovely, G, and another vote for hunting dogs, but I can't help, sorry.

Some sellers call every Continental European carving Black Forest. No one in Continental Europe ever carved a thing, except for the people of the Black Forest.

 

CAn I just throw in that the edge carving is very typical of English tables.

 

Thanks for the suggestions, but I'm going with France on this one, with French Hunting tables as the inspiration ca. 1870-80.

@Aquitaine , thanks for your vote of confidence! We're at the point, however, where we have to move 5 things to make room for 1, then we have to sell something else. Which we're doing...in this case a "plain Jane" Eastlake marble top table we bought when we were beginners, years ago.

Arrgg, the poisonous sting of addiction!

 

Indeed, a collectors quandary, for sure. Making a spot isn't as easy as it sounds if you've been collecting for a while!
As for value, I don't know, in the early American world, France or anywhere besides the USA is a problem as we tend to be quite provincial about that sort of thing, Victorian might be different about that, more cosmopolitan perhaps.
CONGRATS! on your new piece.

 

That’s a truly beautiful table. I would insure for a hell of a lot of money.

 

My loving wife shared a quote with me the other day that she wanted me to take to heart. It said something like: ‘Your house is a home and not a storage unit’ Made me smile....

 

But can’t it be both?