AN ORMOLU-MOUNTED ROSEWOOD AND MARQUETRY SECRÉTAIRE À CYLINDRE, after a model by J. H. Riesener, inlaid overall in parquetry and satinwood, the rectangular top with a pierced three-quarter gallery, above a sliding cover with fitted interior, the centre inlaid with poetic trophies and flowers within an oval ormolu surround and ribbon-tied foliate swags, the breakfront moulded edge above a waved apron, the frieze drawer centred by an ormolu rectangular panel of festive putti, flanked to each side by a shaped drawer with foliate cast handles, the sides also with parquetry above ormolu panels, one depicting architecture, the other the arts, on square tapering legs with ormolu collar and foliate sabots, fourth quarter 19th century

Details

AN ORMOLU-MOUNTED ROSEWOOD AND MARQUETRY SECRÉTAIRE À CYLINDRE, after a model by J. H. Riesener, inlaid overall in parquetry and satinwood, the rectangular top with a pierced three-quarter gallery, above a sliding cover with fitted interior, the centre inlaid with poetic trophies and flowers within an oval ormolu surround and ribbon-tied foliate swags, the breakfront moulded edge above a waved apron, the frieze drawer centred by an ormolu rectangular panel of festive putti, flanked to each side by a shaped drawer with foliate cast handles, the sides also with parquetry above ormolu panels, one depicting architecture, the other the arts, on square tapering legs with ormolu collar and foliate sabots, fourth quarter 19th century
45in. (114.5cm.) wide; 43½in. (110.5cm.) high; 25¾in. (65.5cm.) deep

Lot Essay

This secrétaire à cylindre in the Louis XVI style, is a variant of the bureau with mother-of-pearl 'trellis' marquetry made by Riesener for Marie-Antoinette's boudoir at Fontainebleau in 1786.
The 'poetic' trophy was, no doubt, inspired by the ormolu medallion accompanying a tablet of festive putti, on Marie-Antoinette's secrétaire à abattant, also by Riesener, in the Prince Demidoff Collection, sold San Donato, 22 March 1870, lot 282.
A secrétaire of this pattern (Sotheby's, London, 8 November 1984, lot 716) bears the brand of Gervais Durand of the rue Beautreillis, who, like Beurdeley and Dasson, copied 18th century furniture and was awarded a medal at the 1889 Paris Exhibition.

More from The 19th Century

View All