AN EMPIRE ORMOLU-MOUNTED MAHOGANY SECRETAIRE A ABATTANT

IN THE MANNER OF BERNARD MOLITOR, CIRCA 1800

Details

AN EMPIRE ORMOLU-MOUNTED MAHOGANY SECRETAIRE A ABATTANT
IN THE MANNER OF BERNARD MOLITOR, CIRCA 1800
The later white marble rectangular top above a long secret frieze drawer, the fall front flanked by engaged classically draped caryatid pilasters, enclosing an interior fitted with two long drawer over a long and two smaller pigeonholes above three small brass-inlaid drawers to either side of a locking deep drawer, above a pair of doors enclosing three lockable long drawers, on ebonized lion's paw feet, lacking caryatid feet mounts, the feet probably replaced
55in. (139.5cm.) high, 38¼in. (97cm.) wide, 17½in. (44.5cm.) deep

Lot Essay

The straight forward and simple design of this secretaire which exploits the natural figuring of the mahogany veneer, is distinctively reminiscent of the designs of Bernard Molitor, maître in 1787. The use of Egyptian term capitals with the royal klaft headdress is also very characteristic of Molitor's oeuvre. For further information, see U. Leben, Molitor: Ebéniste from the Ancien Régime to the Bourbon Restoration, London, 1992.

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