Produced by the firm Deagostini in Turin (I) circa 1880/90. Pool version. A solid walnut table of splayed form, with serpentine and bombé shaping on all sides, carved with flowers and rocaille, painted gold, with floral painted medallions separated by carved and gold-painted latticework, with bronze mounts. With 6 brass ball holders in the form of cupped hands, with bone intarsia and a restored green felt lining. The vitrine is similar in style, with fittings for 12 cues. A walnut structure demountable with the screw assembly, in 4 parts, with gold painted carved ornament, with 1 door, glazing on 3 sides, with 1 glazed door below with compartments, lined inside with moiré silk. The maker’s mark in the centre of the games area. Playing area: 295 x 160 cm. Vitrine/cue holder: ca. 273 x 184 x 50 cm. 12 cues of modern origin, also balls. In restored condition. (DOC)

Lit.:
the present billiards table was, according to the owners, presented at the World Fair in Paris in 1889; it is illustrated in the book "Il biliardo et la storia" by Georges Troffaës, plate 8, p. 80, Litografia Papergraf, Padua 1990.

The games table, when compared with many other tables of the “Belle Epoque” period, is impressive for its quality of “movement” – the walnut frieze measuring up to 10cm thick is a technical and structural tour de force; the legs are attached by screws and can be removed. The gold-painted latticework decoration is reminiscent of the Régence period and the heavy legs with their carved and gold-painted foliate ornament lend the table a certain solidity, while the floral painted medallions give the piece a lightness, which is reminiscent of the painted Venetian furniture of the 18th century. The top is divided into three slate panels. Brass pockets extend from the table “as if by a ghostly hand” whenever a ball falls into a hole.

The storage arrangement for the cues is also of a unique quality and quite incomparable: the double arrow-like construction of the vitrine resembles that of an organ and reflects the imposing character of this ensemble. The carved and gold-painted foliate ornament is repeated here and aligns itself with the table.

This museum quality billiards table is extremely rare - in stylistic terms there has been nothing quite like it.