One of the most popular pieces of French antique furniture is the gueridon table . The gueridon is also occasionally known as d’hote tables in more formal settings.
Generally speaking gueridon tables are used as side tables or additional display or serving tables to accompany a dining table or sideboard. Although very often functional pieces of furniture, they can sometimes be quite ornate in design and construction.
In terms of appearance, a typical gueridon table is round in shape with a vertical pedestal support. The pedestal, more often than not, forms the main decorative element of the table with its curvaceous lines and occasional carved features.
It’s true to say, the gueridon table was popularised in France during the late 17th and early 18th centuries quickly becoming a symbol of luxury and sophistication within the bourgeois class of France.
It was at this time that the French gueridon table would feature largely in dining rooms to aid the serving of multiple courses of a meal as well as providing much needed extra space for serving utensils and the like.
Due to its relatively small size, the gueridon table proved to be a versatile piece of French furniture allowing for ease of movement between rooms. The gueridon table essentially became a table for all occasions, not just for dining situations.
The more elaborate, and ornate gueridon tables were used in areas of the house where their presence would serve to show the status of a household.
This would normally be in an entrance or hallway, where guests could instantly gain an impression of the families wealth. In addition to the decorative base, gueridon tables used in this way would usually feature a marble top adding to a more sophisticated look. This marble could be a simple polished top or a top featuring a more decorative or bevelled edge.
Moving forward to present day, the antique gueridon table still retains its ability to elevate a room in style terms. It has become a much sought after French antique by interior designers and decorators looking to add a style note around the home. This may be in its original French polished finish or a more relaxed distressed painted finish.
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