Writing table - Wood, Bronze

Prestigious Bonheur-du-jour desk from the Napoleonic III era in precious woods and inlaid plaques

Extraordinary center-piece desk "Bonheur-du-jour" of the Napoleonic III period, a superb expression of Parisian cabinetmaking from the late nineteenth century. The furniture, coming from a prestigious historic residence, stands out for its exceptional constructive quality and the exceedingly refined decorative apparatus, typical of furnishings destined for the palaces of the era’s aristocracy.
The structure is entirely covered with a precious veneer in exotic woods, with large surface areas in walnut burl and bois de rose that create a chromatic contrast of great elegance. The piece is enriched by porcelain plaques set in the raised gallery, finely hand-painted with gallant scenes of 18th-century inspiration and signed, protected by frames in gilt bronze. At the center of the gallery rises a niche decorated with a torch with a laurel crown in chased bronze, a symbol of victory and wisdom.
The writing surface, with an original leather inset decorated in gold, hides a large lower drawer that disappears when opened. The gilt bronze ornamentation is ubiquitous and of the highest quality: from the female-figured caryatids adorning the upper uprights to the elegant sabots that terminate the scrolling legs, every element has been chiselled with artisanal mastery. The slender silhouette and harmonious proportions make this desk a piece of high collection, capable of dominating the room with its history and its unmistakable aura of nobility."