Table - Wood - Desk Bonheur du Jour

Bonheur du Jour Writing Desk by Sorrentino – Inlays and Mother-of-Pearl – 19th Century

DESCRIPTION OF THE ITEM

Rare and monumental lady’s writing desk of the “Bonheur du Jour” type, crafted in high Sorrentine workmanship in the second half of the 19th century, entirely inlaid and made to special historic order.

The piece is a masterpiece of the celebrated tradition of colorful Sorrentine inlay, finely executed on a ebonized background.

Details of cabinetry and iconography: The facade and the panels are richly decorated with refined, mirror-like inlays depicting cornucopias of abundance with fruit, leaves dyed by penetration (retaining a splendid original green tone), and botanical sprigs. The petals of the white flowers and the delicate drop knobs of the four upper small drawers are crafted in precious natural mother-of-pearl, giving a shifting luster and a three-dimensional quality to the entire structure. The petals' details are finished with a burin and Chinese ink. At the top, an elegant oval carved medallion encloses the refined monogram with intertwined letters "S S" (one in light wood and one in bright green wood), testifying to the exclusive original commission of the piece.

Structure and functionality: The furniture is composed of two sections. The upper part (the riser with drawers and central open compartment) is completely removable via dedicated interlocking pins; the back of the riser preserves the original-era paper label ( illegible) and a fascinating violet-era ink blot absorbed by the raw wood, a suggestive testament to its intensive historical use in the 19th century. The lower body houses a sliding writing surface in perfect working order, enriched by a green leather blotter bordered by geometrically inlaid fillets, and a large under-top drawer with the original locking mechanism and an era-appropriate key fully functional. The legs, beautifully turned, are connected by a refined X-shaped crisscross. The piece is also notable for being finished on the back and sides, featuring elegant geometric inlays with concentric diamond motifs. This premium feature makes it a “glaçé” piece that can be placed also in the center of a room.

Condition: The piece is in the state of discovery, never restored. The wooden structure requires carpentry work for consolidation and restoration of overall stability. On the turned legs and the lower crisscross there are widespread and normal superficial finish losses of the ebonized surface due to time and use, easily addressable during polishing. Conversely, the inlays and precious mother-of-pearl applications are of very high quality and are in excellent order, complete, secure, and splendidly preserved. An exceptional item for refinishing experts and demanding collectors.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Style: Sorrentine / Eclectic (Sorrento Inlaid / Bonheur du Jour)

Era: Second half of the 19th Century (circa 1870–1880)

Origin: Italy / Sorrentine Area (Naples)

Materials: Ebonized wood, inlays in various woods (walnut, maple, dyed woods) and natural mother-of-pearl

Dimensions:
Width: 73 cm
Height at writing plane: 74 cm
Depth: 59 cm
Total overall height: 118 cm

Given the delicacy of the piece and its size, pickup is necessary. For delivery to northern Italy, Switzerland, and southern Germany I can deliver the piece personally, after a mutual agreement on transport costs.
Currently the piece is located in Paderno Dugnano (MILAN).