Louis XVI Marquetry Nesting Tables Set of 4 — Oval Tray-Top with Gilt Bronze Gallery

Design & Inspiration

Four tables arranged in a cascade — each one a smaller echo of the last, nesting together into a single sculptural form. The largest, with its shaped oval top rimmed by a pierced gilt bronze gallery, commands the group; the three smaller tables descend in precise proportion beneath it, ready to be drawn out whenever the room demands an extra surface. This is the genius of the tables gigognes: a French invention of the Louis XVI era that solved the problem of occasional furniture with characteristic Gallic elegance — beauty that never intrudes on space it isn't using.

Materials & Craftsmanship

Each top surface is paneled in hand-laid floral marquetry, with naturalistic bouquets and scrolling botanical motifs rendered in contrasting warm satinwood, walnut, and fruitwood veneers against a rich Okoumé ground. The marquetry is not printed or transferred — every petal and leaf is individually cut and set, a discipline that demands hours per square centimeter and produces an image that deepens with the grain of the wood rather than sitting on its surface. The frames and legs are turned and tapered in the Louis XVI manner: slender, slightly fluted columns that taper to brass sabots (toe-caps), with cast gilt bronze acanthus mounts at the corners and aprons that anchor the metalwork to the woodwork. The largest table carries an additional pierced brass gallery rail around its perimeter — a period detail that evokes the bronzier's art as much as the ébéniste's. All surfaces receive a hand-applied French polish finish that amplifies the depth of the marquetry beneath.

Dimensions & Details

Largest table (Mother table): Width: 75 cm / Depth: 40 cm / Height: 53 cm. The three nesting tables graduate proportionally beneath, designed to slide cleanly into formation when not in use. The set is supplied fully assembled, requiring only placement.

Handcrafted in Egypt

This set is made by hand in Egypt by craftsmen trained in the European marquetry and cabinet-making tradition. Brass & Wood selects premium hardwood with tightly controlled humidity levels for all structural elements, ensuring dimensional stability in the varied climates of the Middle East and Mediterranean. Every piece of metalwork — gallery rail, corner mounts, sabots — is individually cast and hand-finished. The result is a set that faithfully reproduces the refinement of a Louis XVI tables gigognes atelier without requiring the four-figure provenance price of a museum-quality original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What materials are used in these nesting tables?

The structural frames are solid hardwood. Tops are finished in hand-laid floral marquetry using Okoumé, satinwood, walnut, and fruitwood veneers. All metal elements — gallery rail, corner mounts, and leg sabots — are cast brass with a gold finish.

Do these tables require assembly?

Minimal assembly only — the tables arrive nearly complete and require no specialist tools or skills to finish placement.

Can the marquetry pattern or finish be customized?

Yes. Brass & Wood offers customization of wood species, veneer palette, brass finish, and table proportions. Contact our team with your specifications for a tailored quotation.