1920s
France
mahogany, quartz
27″ High x 33″ deep x 55″ wide

The scroll base has a muscular elegance which pays homage to the Régence, yet the boldness of the proportions sets it firmly in Art Deco. What draws us to the piece is the expressive quality not only of its design, but of the material: the wood is such a deep brown that it appears black in low light. The French polish gleams. The pale green quartz top, 1 1/4″ thick, is luminous, veined with white and shadowed with a light brown that picks up the color of the wood base. We think this piece makes for a commanding desk or center table. A small bone label on the base reads, “J. Klein Meubles, 31 Rue de Miromesnil”, a furniture manufacturer active in the early part of the 20th century in Paris.