Antique French Desks (1770-1800)
Antique French DESKS About 1770-1800
Louis XVI secretaire-a-abattant in satinwood with marquetry decoration.
Neo-classical, first phase: ‘Louis XVI’ style already established in France by 1771, four years before death of Louis XV. Sinuous shapes replaced by rectilinear carcase for secretaire, straight tapered legs (square or round section) on bureau plat and cylinder-topped desk. Many pieces still highly decorative but trend towards plainer style was marked in the 1780s.
Dubois makes arguably the first bureau plat on tapered legs about 1768; Riesener noted for type of small writing-table with projecting central panel of frieze, also for a lady’s worktable with writing-slide on end supports. Many ebenistes work to instructions from a marchand-mercier (intermediary between maker and customer). After 1789 Revolution, an austere version of the style continues under the Directoire.
Germany adopts rectilinear carcase for bureau-cabinet on turned and tapered legs, but rococo shaping retained in pediment, e.g. one made in Berlin, 1775, by Fiedler for Frederick the Great. Cylinder-top bureau popular 1780-1820 in Mainz.
Vienna produces elegant version of bonheur-du-jour, showing French and English influences; these also evident in Italy where decorative elements of style are emphasized in tall bureau-cabinets, and Spain where neat knee-hole writing-tables have richly ornamented drawer-fronts.
Louis XVI bonheur dujour.
In 1771, Holland prohibits imports of furniture to protect Dutch craftsmen who produce fine fall-front secretaires and writing-tables in neo-classical style. In Sweden, Haupt makes magnificent examples of bureaux plat in Denmark, bureaux and bureau-cabinets with slope fronts are simple in outline but colourfully painted.
Catherine the Great imports numerous desks into Russia, some by Roentgen, which serve as models for simplified versions by craftsmen in St Petersburg and on country estates. In Poland, chunky slope-front bureaux with very wide crossbandings produced in Kolbuszowa (Little Poland).
Mainly as in the previous period but with the important addition of mahogany to the French repertoire.
Mainly as in previous period but with revived use of stretchers to strengthen slim-legged stands for heavy carcases, e.g. in Paris, Weisweiler makes secretaires raised on legs joined by interlaced stretchers.
Marquetry still highly popular (until fashion for plain mahogany desks takes off), but subjects are neo-classical – e.g. in Milan, Maggiolini uses marquetry panels depicting Greek gods and goddesses.
Parquetry – geometric arrangements of small pieces of contrasting veneer – also used in many countries, e.g. for falls of cylinder bureaux by Tenuta, Lisbon, one of few Portuguese cabinetmakers to sign work; signature found in secret drawers, embossed on leather panels.
Neo-classical motifs also used for carved decoration, e.g. urns, swags, Roman busts surmounting secretaires by Bonzanigo, Turin; also for ormolu mounts of very high quality in France and Germany.
Handles and mounts are first feature to be adapted to the change from rococo to neoclassical.
Many small French writing-tables painted with flowered trellis patterns using coloured varnishes (vernis Martin). Danish bureaux painted with formal patterns in bright colours on cool ground. Marquetry brought to very high finish by varnishing, sanding down and waxing; colours of various woods, now mellow, vivid when new and some made more so with stains. What English collectors now prize as ‘patina’ is result of fading, waxing and dirt; less appreciated on Continent where many pieces are re-finished to restore former glory.
Grand pieces understandably expensive but many lesser bureaux and writing-tables of this period can be bought reasonably, e.g. cylinder-top bureaux in plain mahogany of late-Louis XVI or Directoire vintage, or Dutch secretaires decorated with marquetry or lacquer panels.
Although the word ‘ormolu’ derives from French meaning “ground gold”, in France the mounts are described as les bronzes dots or simply les bronzes.
Interlaced stretchers.
grand stand clock medium xixeme
buffet bas xix eme in oak
porcelain turtle new
rare carved wooden pestle 19th
antique marble clock in pink
ancient pottery of color clear 2
former leg clamp in silver
oak door entry to restore
antique silver wine coolers
Tags: 1780s, bureau plat, Desks, Directoire, drawer, FRENCH, louis xv, louis xvi style, mahogany, Neo-classical, secret drawers, writing tables