An important Baroque center table, John V period (1707-1750)

Estimate €6.000–8.000

Description

In carved, gilded and partially marbled wood, painted in black.

Zoomorphic feet, joined by a carved and cut-out lower stretcher forming foliate scrolls and an X-shaped composition.

Four profusely carved legs composed of female atlantid figures, enveloped by foliate scrolls and terminating in claw feet.

Richly carved and pierced apron with a composition of foliate scrolls, shellwork and naturalistic-inspired motifs with birds at the centre.

Rectangular wooden top.

Portugal, 18th century.

(signs of use, losses and defects)

84x136x91 cm

Text

João V center table

Among the most impressive pieces in this collection, this center table, dating from the first half of the 18th century, during the reign of King João V, stands out.

The extraordinary profusion of carving, the scale of the figures forming the legs and the quality of the sculptural work lend it a presence that transcends the piece’s utilitarian function, bringing it closer to the language of sculpture and grand Baroque woodcarving. The composition, dominated by female atlantes, volutes, acanthus leaves, scalloped motifs and other naturalistic motifs, reflects the exuberance that characterises Portuguese furniture of the Joanine period. The use of human figures as supporting elements and the employment of deep, voluminous carving place the piece within the decorative culture of stately interiors from the first half of the 18th century. Furniture from this period is characterised precisely by the monumentality of its forms, the exuberance of its carving and the frequent use of gilding, in a style that transposed Baroque scenographic principles into the domestic sphere.

The importance of this table is further emphasised by its direct link to the history of the Casa das Brolhas. In a painting depicting Our Lady and the Child, which originated from the house itself and has been preserved by the family, a ceremonial table is depicted whose structure and decoration bear a striking resemblance to the table now unveiled by MATER. Particularly striking are the rectangular shape of the tabletop, the design of the skirting and the overall composition of the carving, allowing the painting to be recognised as a visual record of the type of furniture that formed part of the interiors of the Casa das Brolhas.

More than a mere period depiction, the relationship between this painting and the very table it illustrates is a rare testimony to the lived experience and splendour of the house’s interiors, placing the piece in the context for which it was designed: a domestic space where furniture, like painting, sculpture, goldsmithing and all other arts, contributed to the construction of an image of social distinction and culture.

This extraordinary table thus takes on a particularly significant documentary dimension: it is not merely an exceptional example of Portuguese Joanine furniture, but stands as a work conceived as an artistic expression from the outset and documented as part of the material heritage of the Casa das Brolhas.