The marquetry on the top tier of this Gallé table showcases a Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger) on the left, emerging from the soil, and Snowdrops (Galanthus), known as Perce-neige in French, on the right, nestled in a bed of snow. The Christmas Rose earned its name from an old legend in which it miraculously bloomed in the snow from the tears of a young girl who had no gift for the Christ Child in Bethlehem. The Snowdrops’ French name, Perce-neige (meaning "snow-piercer"), reflects their ability to push through the last remnants of winter’s snow. While the Christmas Rose is one of the first flowers to bloom in winter, Snowdrops mark the arrival of early spring. Together, the marquetry serves as an allegory for the transition from winter to spring. The second tier of the table showcases an intricately carved relief of corn with a border of tree trunks.
