4 FRENCH ART NOUVEAU NESTING TABLES - Ref 01616
Exceptional set of four Art Nouveau nesting tables crafted in noble woods with refined marquetry by the Lyon cabinetmaker Antoine Bastel, circa 1900. Bastel is known to have collaborated with the celebrated French Art Nouveau master Émile Gallé, producing furniture for or alongside the Gallé workshop. Surviving examples of nesting tables from this period are known bearing both Gallé and Bastel signatures, illustrating the network of highly skilled regional craftsmen involved in the production of Art Nouveau furniture.
This elegant set is executed in fine noble woods, showcasing the refined craftsmanship and material quality characteristic of French decorative arts at the turn of the 20th century. The largest table features a marquetry wood signature “A. Bastel” located at the lower right corner of the tabletop (see photo). Each table bears the cursive “A. Bastel” signature on the leg, and the smallest table retains the original Ateliers Antoine Bastel plaque beneath the top. Elegant, practical, and highly decorative, this set perfectly reflects the aesthetic ideals of the Art Nouveau.
Table 1 (largest)
28.35 in H × 24.02 in W × 15.75 in D
72 cm H × 61 cm W × 40 cm D
Marquetry signature “A. Bastel” at the lower right corner of the top (see photo)
Table 2
27.56 in H × 18.50 in W × 14.17 in D
70 cm H × 47 cm W × 36 cm D
Table 3
26.97 in H × 16.54 in W × 13.39 in D
68.5 cm H × 42 cm W × 34 cm D
Table 4 (smallest)
26.38 in H × 14.57 in W × 12.20 in D
67 cm H × 37 cm W × 31 cm D
With Ateliers Antoine Bastel plaque under the top. (see photo)
All tables bear the cursive “A. Bastel” signature on the legs.
Émile Gallé (1846–1904) was one of the leading figures of French Art Nouveau and a founding member of the École de Nancy. Based in Nancy, he gained international recognition for his pioneering work in glass, ceramics, and furniture. His designs are celebrated for their botanical inspiration, poetic symbolism, and complex marquetry techniques, making Gallé one of the most influential decorative artists of the late 19th century.
Antoine Bastel was an accomplished cabinetmaker active in Lyon around the turn of the 20th century. His workshop specialized in finely crafted furniture made from noble woods and intricate marquetry. Bastel is known to have worked as a subcontractor or collaborator within the wider production network surrounding Émile Gallé, supplying furniture pieces that share the stylistic and technical qualities associated with the Art Nouveau movement. Surviving works bearing Bastel’s signature demonstrate the high level of craftsmanship characteristic of the finest French decorative arts workshops of the period.
contact : Laetitia@artdecoceramicglasslight.com