Antique French Two-Tier Tea Table with Japonisme-Inspired Painted Decoration - 32¾"

This elegant late-19th-century French two-tier tea table has the light, ornamental presence typical of portable salon furniture from the period. Scalloped shelves and sinuous cabriole legs are finished in a deep, near-black lacquered tone, creating a dramatic backdrop for the decorated surfaces above. Each tier is embellished with raised and painted motifs of birds, butterflies, and flowering grasses, delicately highlighted in softened gilt and muted colors that add warmth and charm. The paintwork shows gentle wear, with small losses along the edges and softened areas of color that speak to age and use, while the structure remains stable and sound. 

The decorative language, inspired by Japanese lacquerwork, reflects the late-19th-century European fascination with Japonisme and the poetry of nature. Both decorative and practical, the table is lightweight and fitted with discreet metal side handles, allowing it to be easily moved from room to room, an essential feature for tea service in refined drawing rooms of the time. 

Perfect beside a settee or favorite armchair, it serves beautifully as a drinks or lamp table, with the lower tier ready for books. The silhouette brings quiet romance and an inviting warmth to living spaces, bedrooms, or a hallway vignette, while the handles invite easy repositioning for entertaining. Its patina lends character to modern rooms and harmonizes effortlessly with antiques, painted furniture, and soft textiles.