Round Brass Neoclassical Coffee Table, Maison Baguès, France, circa 1940

This beautifully conceived round coffee table is executed in polished brass, its circular top resting on a neoclassical base of considerable refinement. The clean architectural geometry of the piece — the unbroken circular plane of the top and the tapering legs articulated with classical detail — reflects the sophisticated modernist interpretation of antique forms that characterised the finest French decorative arts of the 1930s and 1940s.

The piece bears all the hallmarks of Maison Baguès, the celebrated Parisian bronzier and master craftsman of decorative metalwork founded in the mid-nineteenth century. Operating from their prestigious premises on the Boulevard Saint-Germain, Baguès became synonymous with the finest production of brass and bronze furniture and lighting in France, counting among their clients the most distinguished collectors and interior decorators of the period. Their brass furniture pieces are today among the most sought-after items of French inter-war decorative arts.

In excellent original condition, the brass displays the warm, honeyed patina acquired over decades of careful use. The generous circular form and low height make this an ideal cocktail or coffee table for a neoclassically furnished drawing room or an elegant salon. A distinguished example of the Baguès production at the height of their craft, and an outstanding opportunity for the serious collector.