20th C. French Painted Side Table

An octagonal-topped pedestal table with a raised dish edge. The finish is a chalky white paint with three splayed legs which meet the floor on brass casters, so it moves easily. The perfect size for many different applications. 

Painted furniture finished to look worn or chalky rather than glossy became a hallmark of French provincial and Gustavian-influenced decorating through the 20th century, the surface treated to read as though it had aged in place over generations rather than been finished new. Casters on a piece this size were a practical addition rather than a period feature, common on smaller occasional tables meant to be pulled up to a chair or moved around a room rather than fixed in one spot.

Style: French, Painted
Materials & Techniques: Painted wood, brass casters
Place of Origin: France
Period: 1940s