  
  About the Artwork
  
  
  With a wealth of materials and a fusion of historic styles, this demi-lune (half-moon) table embodies the transitional taste of the French Directoire (1795&acirc;&#128;&#147;99). The spare, architectonic components of the design reflect an ongoing fascination with the classical forms of the ancient Mediterranean that was ignited by archaeological investigations begun earlier in the century. These Neoclassical elements are further enhanced by plaques featuring figural Greek motifs in the distinctive white on blue jasperware imported from Wedgwood Pottery in Staffordshire, England. More exotic imported materials include the original blue marble top and the mahogany veneer. The monumental form of a winged sphinx in gilded bronze that supports the table introduces a strikingly different element based on the new and rising interest in the artifacts of ancient Egypt. The broad wing span of the figure contrasts with the lean, single-leg support that assigns the table the term monopod (one foot).
From Bulletin of the Detroit Institute of Arts 89 (2015)
  
  
  Title
  Mahogany Pier Table with Sphinx Monopod
  
  
  Artwork Date
  ca. 1799
  
  
  
  
  Makers
  
  
  Antoine-L&Atilde;&copy;onard Dupasquier  (Designer)
  French, 1748 - c. 1831
  Martin Eloi Lignereux  (Designer)
  French, 1752 - 1809
  Adam Weisweiler  (Maker)
  French, 1750-1810
  Antoine-L&Atilde;&copy;onard Dupasquier  (Maker)
  French, 1748 - c. 1831
  Pierre Philippe Thomire  (Maker)
  French, 1751-1843
  
  
  
  Medium
  Mahogany veneer, gilt bronze, Wedgwood jasperware plaques, mirror, bleu turquin marble
  
  
  Dimensions
  Overall: 36 &Atilde;&#151; 58 1/2 &Atilde;&#151; 19 inches (91.4 &Atilde;&#151; 148.6 &Atilde;&#151; 48.3 cm)
  
  
  Classification
  Furniture
  
  
  Department
  European Sculpture and Dec Arts
  
  
  Credit
  Museum Purchase, Stoddard Family Foundation, Joseph H. Parsons Fund, Andrew L. and Gayle Shaw Camden Contemporary and Decorative Arts Fund, Janis and William Wetsman Foundation Fund, Alan, Marianne and Marc Schwartz Fund; and gift of K.T. Keller by exchange
  
  
  
  Accession Number
  
  
  
  This unique number is assigned to an individual artwork as part of the cataloguing process at the time of entry into the permanent collection.
  Most frequently, accession numbers begin with the year in which the artwork entered the museum&acirc;&#128;&#153;s holdings.
  For example, 2008.3 refers to the year of acquisition and notes that it was the 3rd of that year. The DIA has a few additional systems&acirc;&#128;&#148;no longer assigned&acirc;&#128;&#148;that identify specific donors or museum patronage groups.
  
  
  
  2007.117
  
  
  Copyright
  Public Domain
  
  
  
