Folding table 1870 Gueret Frères

I present to you this remarkable piece of furniture dating from the 19th century, post-1860, from the famous Guéret Frères house in Paris. It is an elegant small table with blackened flaps, opening with two small drawers on one side and a work drawer with a marble base on the other side. Its top features wavy contours and it gracefully rests on four curved legs. Dating from the second half of the 19th century, this piece is the work of the brothers Denis-Désiré (born in 1828) and Onésime Guéret (born in 1830), who founded their sculpted furniture manufacturing business in 1852 or 1853 at 7 Rue Buffault in Paris, under the name "Guéret Frères". Over the years, their business evolved, moving from 5 Boulevard de la Madeleine to 216 Rue Lafayette, where it continued until its final closure. From 1877, the activity was taken over by the younger brother, giving rise to "Guéret Jeune et Cie", which continued its operations until the end of the century. The Guéret brothers participated in numerous exhibitions from 1855, winning many medals and receiving constant praise, as evidenced by the favourable review from the famous Art Journal during the 1878 Universal Exhibition. Their expertise in the manufacture of high-quality sculpted furniture earned their company ongoing recognition, thus strengthening their order book. Notable figures such as the Duke of Aumale, Napoleon III, and Mr. Bryce sought their services for the creation of sumptuous furniture. The dimensions of this exceptional piece, once opened, are as follows: length of 78 cm (38 cm with the flaps down), width of 58 cm, and height of 70 cm. Its weight is 17 kg.