A gilt-bronze-mounted ivory and polychrome painted table en chiffonnière the decoration of the top based upon an engraving by Christophe Huet Louis XV, mid 18th century

the top with central reserve depicting a singerie scene with dancing monkeys holding musical instruments, above a side drawer, on cabriole legs, the whole further decorated with further singerie scenes within rocaille and scroll reserves

The Alexander Collection, Christie's New York, 30th  April 1999, lot 20.

There is some minor retouching generally and there are some old very minor marks and chips commensurate with age. There has been a later piece of wood supported by a baton inserted beneath the top when it was restored. There has been a small section cut out at the back of the drawer to accommodate the baton underneath. The decoration has been inspected under ultra-violet light, which is in the main, e.g. 95% original with some very minor restorations. Charming detail to the decoration. In overall good restored condition.
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NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Comparative Literature;
La peinture décorative au XVIIIe siècle, Paris , 1912,.plate 66,

The present table en chiffonnière was more than likely commissioned through the intervention of one of the marchands-merciers that were active under the reign of Louis XV. It is not inconceivable that the ivory ground was designed to give the impression that the table was made of real ivory, considered a rare and luxurious material at that time.

The frivolous and playful character of the singerie scenes are clearly influenced by Antoine Watteau, the main rococo chinoiserie painter whose influence reached far beyond the French borders and whose work was popularised through a series of engraved plates which were widely available all over Europe. Christophe Huet is renowned for making Watteau's style his own by combining these chinoiserie landscapes with singerie scenes of which the present table is a perfect example. The decoration on the top is based upon an engraving by Christophe Huet, illustrated op. cit., plate 66,  reproduced here in fig. 1. Only a few details of the engraving have been changed and it is a faithful reproduction printed by Ar. Guérinet, ed. 140 Faubourg St.-Martin, Paris.

Two further painted panels with similar singerie scenes are at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, one of which depicts an identical scene to the one on the top of the present table top, reproduced here in fig. 2.

The use of these playful characters of monkeys are reminiscent of the earlier work of Jean Berain during the reign of Louis XIV, the celebrated ornamental engraver and designer, see footnote to lot 3. 

Christophe Huet (d. 1759):
This French  Rococo painter and designer is most renowned for the decoration of interiors on a fairly large scale. The most representative examples of this work are the enchanting grande and petite singerie panelled rooms painted at Chantilly for the Prince de Condé during the 1730's. Further ensembles of panelling can be found at the Hôtel de Rohan, Paris and for Madame de Pompadour's Château de Champ which both reflect Huet's inventive contribution to the French rococo.  His singeries were widely used both for marquetry and painted decoration on furniture and also painted decoration on porcelain.