Zwiener Jansen Successeur fl. circa 1900 A gilt and patinated bronze mounted burr amboyna center table, Paris, early 20th century, after the model attributed to Adam Weisweiler and Pierre-Philippe Thomire

surmounted by an inset granite marble top, the four supports decorated with winged female triton monopodiae, the platform stretcher center by an urn, one bronze mount has been removed to reveal the mark ZJ from the bronze master model

J.P. Samoyault, Meubles entrés sous le Premier Empire, Paris, 2004, p. 248, fig. 176, for an illustration of the present model 

This large and imposing circular table was intended for the center of a room. For this reason, it is decorated elaborately on all four sides and could be used to display candelabra, flower-filled vases, centerpieces or clocks. The present table is based on a model of a circular table attributed to Adam Weisweiler and Thomire, which was delivered by Rocheaux to Fontainebleau Palace in 1810. A table of this form appears in the well known portrait titled Madame X by John Singer Sargent, now in the permanent collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Jean Henri Jansen (1854-1929) had an outstanding reputation from the moment he established his business circa 1880 at 9, rue de Rocroy as tapissier-décorateur. Born in the Netherlands, he began his career in decorating and architecture before opening his own company.  In 1885 he moved his company to the fashionable area of 9, rue Royale. He was awarded a Silver Medal at both the 1883 Amsterdam Exhibition and the Paris 1889 Exposition Universelle. Jansen’s commissions included pieces for William III of the Netherlands, Alfonso XII of Spain, President John F. Kennedy and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. The employees of Maison Jansen were just as impressive as the patronage, including the renowned Stéphane Boudin and Pierre Delbée, two of the most influential tastemakers of the 20th century.  Due to the popularity of Jansen’s style, branches of the company were launched worldwide, including offices in New York, Milan, London, Rome and Alexandria. It is internationally observed that Maison Jansen is one of the most renowned interior decorating firms of the 20th century; it is further interesting to note that the Maison was a client of François Linke.

Zwiener Jansen Successor was a company created by the tapissier-décorateur Jean-Henri Jansen following his purchase of Joseph Emmanuel Zwiener's workshop on August 27, 1894.  The bronze mounts of furniture produced after this point were marked with the monogram ZJ.  At this time, Zwiener had left Paris for Berlin, having been summoned by the Kaiser Guillaume II and set up a new workshop at 81 Gutschinerstrasse.