Francisque Chaleyssin French Art Deco Dining Table in Cerused Oak

Francisque Chaleyssin, dining table, cerused oak, brass, formica, France, late 1940s

Francisque Chaleyssin (1872–1951) was a prominent ébéniste and décorateur based in Lyon, active through the interwar and immediate postwar decades. His work bridged the transition from the ornamental vocabulary of Art Deco toward the more pared-down modernism that emerged in postwar France. Chaleyssin’s designs often embodied a synthesis of traditional artisanal techniques, art deco influences, and modern stylistic restraint, aligning him with other regional ateliers that sought to maintain French craftsmanship in an era increasingly defined by industrial production. This remarkable table exemplifies Chaleyssin’s fusion of paradigms. The table’s composition is articulated through a rigorous interplay of geometric volumes and contrasting materials. The structural configuration is defined by a cylindrical pedestal at one end and a planar vertical support at the other, connected by a unifying base shelf. Executed in oak, the surface features a distinctive, pronounced grain pattern, further accentuated by a cerused finish. This technique, which involves applying a contrasting pigment to highlight the wood's natural grain, adds remarkable depth and texture. A continuous brass ring, encircling the base of the cylindrical element and extending along the lower plane, adds another intriguing element to the piece. The top, surfaced in a grid of black formica tiles, introducing a modern material and subtle counterpoint to the tactility of the wood. The table formed part of an interior ensemble in Lyon, furnished by Chaleyssin.