Set of Brass Neoclassical Nesting Tables, Maison Jansen, France, circa 1940

This elegant set of neoclassical nesting tables in polished brass exemplifies the functional ingenuity that Maison Jansen brought to even the most modest furniture forms. The graduated tables, each diminishing in size to nest beneath the largest, share a consistent vocabulary of tapering legs, restrained mouldings, and classical proportions that allows the set to be used together as a unified ensemble or individually as independent occasional tables. The warm brilliance of the polished brass gives the set a refinement and presence that belies the apparent simplicity of the form.

Nesting tables were among the most prized small furniture forms in the French decorating houses of the inter-war period, combining compact storage with multiple functional surfaces for the modern drawing room. At Maison Jansen, founded in 1880 on the Rue Royale in Paris and working for the most distinguished clientele in the world, such utilitarian forms were elevated to objects of quiet luxury. The consistent neoclassical vocabulary of this set — identical to that of the single and paired side tables produced by the house throughout the 1930s — places it firmly within the Jansen production of the decade.

In excellent original condition, the brass retains its warm golden patina across all pieces of the set. The largest table measures 53 × 33 cm in plan and 43.5 cm in height, providing practical dimensions for use beside a sofa or armchair. A distinguished and sought-after form in the Jansen repertoire, these nesting tables offer the collector an exceptional combination of functional utility and decorative refinement.