Ref.03186
Maison des Bambous de Perret et Vibert (attrib. to), Large central coffee table.

Walnut, panel with Tonkin inlaid mother of pearl The inspiration of Far-Eastern creations was crucial to the production of this coffee table. Decorated with latticed wood frizzes, clawed feet as well as elements of gilded bronze openwork, this living room piece is of superb quality.  Its circular top is made from a panel inlaid with mother of pearl coming from Tonkin. The reuse of this panel coming from a furniture piece or from a tabletop is proved by the shortening of some decorative motifs. The mother of pearl décor is quite elegant: in a woody and flowery environment, some small pagodas and other Chinese architecture are depicted. In the lower part, a bridge is shown, on which two men and a horseman pass.In the middle of this scene appears a cursive inscription called the “style of the grass,” artistic writing where the different characters are drawn in a single movement. The writing means: “Collect the flower petals of the plum tree and share their perfume with visitors.” The presence of this inscription proves this panel is a Chinese production. 

Ref.10907
Japanese style table, openwork wooden friezes, top decorated with a japanese hunter

Small Japanese style table made in the late 19th century. It is based on four claw feet joined by an X stretcher whose center is decorated with a gilded bronze plaque with openwork decoration. The apron of the table is adorned with openwork wood friezes and small gilded bronze ornaments representing dragon heads or plant elements and interlacing. The top of this table is garnished with a hunter made in engraved bone marquetry and a small inlaid mother-of-pearl butterfly.