Cheerful Pair of Vintage French Painted Side Tables with Faux-Marble Tops - 27¼" x 19¾"

This charming pair of painted side tables, probably dating from the first half of the 20th century, has a cheerful palette and beautifully timeworn surfaces. Each table has a small drawer with a simple round knob, a gently shaped apron and slender turned legs joined by low stretchers. The real attraction is the wonderfully decorative tops, painted in imitation of geometric marble inlay, reminiscent of Italian pietra dura work.  The tops are painted to imitate geometric marble inlay, with richly mottled terracotta and ochre tones contrasted by blue-green stone effects, arranged in rectangular borders and large central circles to create a bold, graphic composition. The soft buttery-yellow paint on the bases also has a slightly mottled appearance, possibly intended to imitate stone or an aged finish. The surfaces have developed a rich patina, with scratches, rubbing and areas of faded paint that add to the pair’s character.

The slender turned legs and soft buttery-yellow paint give these tables a delicate, almost understated silhouette, in lovely contrast to the bold geometric patterns and rich colors of their faux-marble tops. Their warm colors and beautifully aged paintwork would bring cheer and personality to a bedroom as a pair of nightstands.