Four chimeras support a shelf with their wings, which belt is delicately carved with gadroons and a fleur-de-lis in the center. Their slender bodies, their fine facial features and the elegance of their wings remind us of the extraordinary sphinxes of the Fourdinois cabinet presented at the World’s Fair of 1867 , now preserved at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris. Dressed in elegant pearl tiaras, their flowing hair is treated differently, creating a stylistic harmony that avoids the repetition of a motif and allows Fourdinois to put into practice all his genius as a sculptor.
On the sides of the table, a rich Renaissance style decoration reinforces the exceptional character of this piece of furniture: cut leathers, festoons, feather, fruits and leaves are here the work of a master whose skilful hands shape every detail, for the service of an exceptional ornamentation.