Studio: international art (35.1905)

Ancient Tables

for monetary transactions, and
serving, as they had to, much
the same purpose as the iron
safes of modern times it was
essential that they should be
well made. Fig. XI. shows a
Florentine table of the end of
the fifteenth century. The
pedestal is magnificently con-
structed, the carving rich in
design and powerful in work-
manship. It is evidently the
work of a master-hand. The
three dolls’ tables shown in
Figs. XIII., XIV., and XV.
also belong to the Figdor col-
lection, and all date from the

fig. Xlii. — german doll’s table (Figdor Collection) i6th CENTURY

fig. xiv.—german doll’s table (Figdor Collection) i6th century

refinement and beauty of its age.
Time has not shorn away any of its
lustre; nay, it has even made it
more precious, for its beauty has
increased.

With the seventeenth century, and
the creating of salons, furniture became
more and more luxuriant. Tables
played a great role, and Mazarin was
among those who collected them. In
the Palace of Versailles, under Louis
XIV., there were nearly six hundred
tables of various kinds, as we know
from inventories — ebony, marble,
bronze done, porphyry, marqueterie,
and others. But the most marvellous
of all was the table in massive
silver which Ballin made for the
grand rot.

sixteenth century; and from these
we may learn how it was part of the
workman’s nature to do all that he
did well, no matter whether it was
for child or man. There will be
more to say about this unique col-
lection of doll’s furniture at another
time.

Herr Eugen Miller zu Aichholz
has a small but very beautiful col-
lection of old furniture, including
some rare examples of wedding
chests and cupboards. The table
reproduced in Fig. XII. is Floren-
tine, early sixteenth century. It is
very graceful, and shows all the