Ella Jerman-Riddell
Sale Coordinator
A Farquhar Legacy
Lot 111TP
A French kingwood, tulipwood, gilt bronze and enamel mounted occasional tableThe central grisaille plaque made by Jacques-Joseph de Gault (France, 1738 -1812)
19 November 2025, 14:00 GMT
London, New Bond Street£1,000 - £1,500
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A French kingwood, tulipwood, gilt bronze and enamel mounted occasional table
The central grisaille plaque made by Jacques-Joseph de Gault (France, 1738 -1812)
The crossbanded top above an undulating frieze mounted to the front and sides with enamel plaques, the central plaque decorated with cupid and his attendants, signed J J De Gault, on cabriole legs and scrolled sabots, 37cm wide x 27.5cm deep x 71cm high, (14 1/2in wide x 10 1/2in deep x 27 1/2in high)
The crossbanded top above an undulating frieze mounted to the front and sides with enamel plaques, the central plaque decorated with cupid and his attendants, signed J J De Gault, on cabriole legs and scrolled sabots, 37cm wide x 27.5cm deep x 71cm high, (14 1/2in wide x 10 1/2in deep x 27 1/2in high)
Footnotes
Jacques-Joseph de Gault was a French miniature painter and enameller whose work typifies the late eighteenth-century fashion for hardstone cameos. In particular, he specialised in grisaille and camaieu miniatures painted as bas-reliefs in imitation of antique cameos as seen in the present lot.
He honed his craft as a porcelain painter at the Sèvres factory from 1758 to 1760 and by 1777 he was exhibiting at the Académie de Saint-Luc. His reputation quickly brought him into contact with the leading goldsmiths of Paris, who often collaborated with miniature painters to embellish luxury objects. Miniatures signed by or attributed to de Gault can be found on snuffboxes, etuis and trinket boxes created by the likes of Pierre-François Drais, Jean Ducrollay, Charles Ouizille, and Adrien-Jean-Maximilien Vachette. Various examples are held at the Louvre alongside his most prestigious commission, the plaques for Marie-Antionette's jewel cabinet at Versailles.
The subjects of de Gault's miniatures frequently drew upon classical mythology, with Bacchanalian scenes among his most favoured. Such imagery not only resonated with the Neoclassical fascination for antiquity but also provided opportunities for lively compositions that showcased his skill in rendering expression, movement, and intricate detail on a minute scale.