Maison Jansen Style Brass and Gilt-Tooled Leather Side Table

Maison Jansen Style Brass and Gilt-Tooled Leather Side Table

This Maison Jansen style brass and gilt-tooled leather side table combines refined architectural metalwork with the tactile richness of traditional leather craftsmanship. Its brass structure is defined by fluted uprights, decorative pinecone finials, and small spherical feet, giving the compact table a distinctly elegant silhouette.

Two rectangular tiers are sheathed in warm tawny leather, each decorated with gilt tooling in the manner of fine Parisian bookbinding. A decorative frieze frames the edges, while a central medallion enriches the surface. The result is a small occasional table that balances restrained geometry with luxurious detail.

Fluted Brass Structure

The brass framework gives the table its architectural character. Slender fluted uprights rise between the two shelves, while pinecone finials provide a subtle ornamental accent at the upper corners. Small ball feet complete the structure and reinforce its formal, balanced proportions.

The warm brass patina works particularly well with the tawny leather, creating a harmonious palette of golden and natural tones. Despite its decorative detailing, the frame remains visually light and elegant.

Gilt-Tooled Leather Shelves

The two rectangular tiers are fully covered in tawny leather. Their surfaces are embellished with gilt tooling, including a narrow ornamental border and a central medallion. This treatment recalls the long tradition of Parisian leatherwork and bookbinding, where tooled decoration transformed functional surfaces into objects of refinement.

The leather has developed an even patina of use, with some superficial marks consistent with age. Meanwhile, the gilt tooling remains clearly legible, preserving the decorative clarity of the original design.

Maison Jansen Style

The combination of fluted brass, leather surfaces, and carefully controlled ornament is strongly associated with the decorative vocabulary of Maison Jansen, the influential Parisian decorating house founded in 1880. The firm’s interiors and furnishings became known for combining classical references with sophisticated modern production.

This side table reflects that elegant approach through its compact scale, luxurious materials, and restrained ornamental language. It is best described as Maison Jansen style, making it particularly suitable for interiors that combine French decorative traditions with contemporary furnishings.

Details

• Type: Two-tier side table / occasional table
• Style: Maison Jansen style / French decorative
• Period: 20th century
• Materials: Brass and leather
• Structure: Fluted brass uprights
• Finials: Decorative pinecone finials
• Feet: Small spherical brass feet
• Shelves: Two rectangular leather-covered tiers
• Leather: Tawny leather with natural aged patina
• Decoration: Gilt-tooled borders and central medallions
• Condition: Good overall vintage condition; brass with aged gilt patina, leather with superficial age-related marks, tooling clearly legible
• Character: Refined, warm, elegant, and decorative
• Function: Side table, occasional table, or bedside table
• Attribution: Maison Jansen style

Dimensions

• Height: 61 cm / 24.0 in
• Width: 50.8 cm / 20.0 in
• Depth: 30.5 cm / 12.0 in