Two pedestal Tables by Jean-Charles-François Leloy in the Royal Collections of Patrimonio Nacional

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to provide an in-depth information of two pedestal tables (named Table du Sacre  and Guéridon Mauresque) designed by Leloy, and kept in the royal collections of Patrimonio Nacional (National Heritage). Despite their differences, they both have some elements in common: not only Sèvres porcelain was used as their main decorative material offering painted historical scenes, but also both of them were gifts from French sovereigns to Spanish monarchs. The two pieces were also displayed in the 19th century at the Louvre Royale Manufactures Exhibitions as an example of the high quality that the Sèvres Manufacture achived. Although the Table du Sacre (table of coronation due to its iconography) is of great interest, the decoration of the Guéridon Mauresque is specially remarkable as it provides an interesting insight between courts. It depicts Boabdil leaving the Alhambra, being directly inspired by the Nasrid Palace (15th century): a piece of furniture depicting a scene of the Spanish Moorish past, was made in France and later offered as a gift to the regent of the Spanish Kingdom María Cristina de Borbón.