AFTER THE MODEL BY JEAN-HENRI RIESENER, BY GERVAIS-MAXIMILIEN-EUGÈNE DURAND, LATE 19TH CENTURY

The present table is a direct copy of Jean-Henri Riesener's original supplied in 1780 for Marie-Antoinette's cabinet intérieur at Versailles. The 19th century's leading ébénistes often produced this charming writing table, including François Linke (index no. 881) and E.-Guillaume-Edmond Lexcellent. An example by the latter sold at Christie's, London, 22 September 2011, lot 198 (£18,750) and finely-mounted unsigned version sold at Christie's, New York, 23 November 2010, lot 34 ($28,750).