Henry Dasson (1825 - 1896) - An Exceptional Porphyry Top Table By Henry Dasson

Collection / Tables / Occasional

An Exceptional Porphyry Top Table By Henry Dasson

An Exceptional Porphyry Top Table By Henry Dasson

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DESCRIPTION LITERATURE

An Exceptional Porphyry Top Table
In the Louis XVI Style
By Henry Dasson

A most striking table of novel design and elegant proportions with its original porphyry marble top, constructed of ebonised bois satiné and decorated with the finest hand-chased firegilded bronze mounts; the table is supported on tapering fluted legs with ormolu sabots, the fluting inset with pendant bellflowers below the scrolled Corinthian capitals, the corners of the table set with distinctive ormolu blind-folded masks representing the Allegory of Justice interspersed with panels of floral rinceaux; the frieze inset with a single lockable drawer. One of the capitals incised "Henry Dasson 1878."
French, dated 1878

The present table is the only known example showcasing a porphyry top juxtaposed to the black ebonised wood. The model is depicted in a photograph, dated 1883, of the French Style Winthrop House on Manhattan's East Side. Egerton Winthrop, a wealthy lawyer and society man, had developed a keen appreciation for French aesthetics during his extended stays in Paris. His New York home's drawing room was tastefully decorated in the Louis XVI style, with furniture, tapestries, and objets d'art imported directly from France. Several known designs produced by Henry Dasson are visible in the photograph.

Henry Dasson (1825-1896) was a renowned Parisian furniture maker and bronzier ébéniste, celebrated for his exquisite gilt-bronze mounted furniture in the styles of Louis XIV, XV, and XVI. Initially a bronze sculptor, Dasson's exceptional metalwork and intricate chiseling set him apart from his contemporaries. Operating from 106 rue Vieille-du-Temple in Paris, he acquired Charles-Guillaume Winckelsen's business in 1871, inheriting his superior craftsmanship. Dasson showcased his works at the 1878 and 1889 Paris Expositions Universelles, earning high praise and attracting prestigious clients, including the English Royal Family. Made a chevalier of the Légion d'honneur in 1883 and elevated to an officier in 1889, Dasson's reputation as the finest maker of gilt-bronze mounted furniture endured even after he ceased production in 1894. His pieces, adapting ancien régime designs to contemporary needs, remain unequalled and epitomize 19th-century French furniture craftsmanship.

Porphyry, a hard igneous rock prized since ancient times for its beauty, experienced a revival in 19th-century decorative arts as part of the broader historicist movement. This vibrant, often purple-red stone was incorporated into high-end furniture as inlays or tabletops, crafted into vases, urns, and architectural elements, and used for small luxury objets d'art. Favoured by royalty and nobility, porphyry's use in decorative arts carried connotations of imperial power and luxury, drawing on its historical associations. Notable examples include a porphyry top table by Adam Weisweiler today at the Musée Nissim de Camondo, and pieces by renowned furniture makers like Henry Dasson. The stone was often combined with other precious materials such as marble, bronze, and gilded metals, creating exquisite objects that showcased both the artisan's skill and the owner's status. Despite the difficulties and expenses involved in working with porphyry, its presence in 19th-century decorative arts symbolized refinement and wealth, reflecting the period's fascination with history, luxury materials, and superior craftsmanship.

REF No. 10018

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