Pair of Neoclassical Rectangular Brass Side Tables with Marble Tops by Maison Jansen, France, circa 1940

This distinguished pair of side tables is a characteristic example of Maison Jansen’s neoclassical furniture in its most accomplished and restrained form. The rectangular brass frameworks, with their precisely turned legs, classical mounts, and carefully considered proportions, support tops of richly veined marble — a material whose natural beauty and weight lend an air of permanence and distinction to the composition. The combination of polished brass and marble was one of the most favoured pairings in Jansen’s interwar vocabulary, capable of conveying both the warmth of luxury and the cool authority of classical architecture.

Under the direction of Stéphane Boudin, Maison Jansen became the supreme purveyor of neoclassical furniture in the French tradition, supplying complete salon and library interiors to the most exacting clientele in Europe and America. The rectangular brass-and-marble side table, of which this pair is a fine example, was one of the house’s signature forms: perfectly proportioned, impeccably executed, and equally at home flanking a fireplace, a sofa, or a desk. The survival of matching pairs — always more desirable and more fragile than single pieces — is a testament to the care with which the original owners preserved them.

Presented in very good vintage condition, consistent with their age and provenance. W. 60 cm × D. 30 cm × H. 57.5 cm each.