Antique French Rococo Revival Marquetry Secretaire a Abattant C 1850

Ref: 07674

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Dating from around 1850, this is a wonderful antique French Rococo Revival Secretaire a Abattant featuring ormolu mounted rosewood and marquetry.

A Secretaire a abattant is a tall French writing-desk, the top part of which resembles an armoire, with a door at its base. The top is usually flap-fronted and opens in order to form a large writing surface. This gorgeous double bombe’ and serpentine piece has been skilfully and carefully made in top quality rosewood and features an overall floral and foliate marquetry decoration comprising of a flowering urn and cornucopia.

The fall front still features the original inset leather writing surface. The interior of this secretaire comprises a tulipwood secretaire complete with a pair of tambour fronted tulipwood cupboards with a drawer above.

Stretching over over two half width drawers, there is an open mirror backed central display compartment, used originally for displaying collectables and other items of interest. Below the secretaire there are two full width drawers, with a shaped apron raised on serpentine feet that have ormolu mounts.

Topped with a lovely pink veined marble it is complete with working locks and keys.

Condition:

The antique Secretaire a abattant is in excellent condition having been wonderfully restored in our own workshops, by our own craftsmen. Please see the supplied photos for confirmation or, better still, visit our north London showroom and see it for yourself.

More Information and To View

You are very welcome to email us or call us using the contact details shown above with any questions you might have about this antique French Secretaire a abattant. We would also be delighted to arrange a viewing of this table at our North London warehouse, just email or call for an appointment quoting our reference as shown above so we know which item you are referring to.

The showroom is open from 10am to 5pm every weekday and on occasional Saturdays - please call first before making a journey on a Saturday.

Shipping, Delivery and Return

This is an antique writing table which, like all fine furniture of this quality and age, requires careful packing and shipping. We can ship to any destination worldwide and will take care of the packing for you, but please do call or email for a quotation before purchasing the item so that we can fully discuss your requirements. We ship to any mainland UK address free of charge.

If you are not satisfied with the item we offer a 14-day money back guarantee in accordance with the Distance Selling Regulations. You will be responsible for the return shipping fees for this antique French writing table, unless we have erroneously described the item in some material way and you do not receive what you were expecting. You must return the item in its original packaging and condition.

Buyers are fully responsible for any customs duties or local taxes that may be incurred on items sent outside of the United Kingdom.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 152 x Width 85 x Depth 44

Dimensions in inches:

Height 5 feet x Width 2 foot, 9 inches x Depth 1 foot, 5 inches

Angelica Kauffman, RA (1741 - 1807)

was a Swiss-born Austrian Neoclassical painter who had a successful career in London and Rome. Though born as "Kauffmann", Kauffman is the preferred spelling of her name in English; it is the form she herself used most in signing her correspondence, documents and paintings.

While Kauffman produced many types of art, she identified herself primarily as a history painter, an unusual designation for a woman artist in the 18th century. History painting, was considered the most elite and lucrative category in academic painting during this time period. Under the direction of Sir Joshua Reynolds, the Royal Academy made a strong effort to promote history painting to a native audience who were more interested in commissioning and buying portraits and landscapes.

Despite the popularity that Kauffman enjoyed in British society and her success as an artist, she was disappointed by the relative apathy that the British had towards history painting. Ultimately she left Britain for the continent, where history painting was better established, held in higher esteem and patronized.

The works of Angelica Kauffman have retained their reputation. By 1911, rooms decorated with her work were still to be seen in various quarters. At Hampton Court was a portrait of the duchess of Brunswick; in the National Portrait Gallery, a self-portrait. There were other pictures by her at Paris, at Dresden, in the Hermitage at St Petersburg, in the Alte Pinakothek atMunich, in Kadriorg Palace, Tallinn (Estonia).

Satinwood

is a hard and durable wood with a satinlike sheen, much used in cabinetmaking, especially in marquetry. It comes from two tropical trees of the family Rutaceae (rue family). East Indian or Ceylon satinwood is the yellowish or dark-brown heartwood of Chloroxylon swietenia.

The lustrous, fine-grained, usually figured wood is used for furniture, cabinetwork, veneers, and backs of brushes. West Indian satinwood, sometimes called yellow wood, is considered superior. It is the golden yellow, lustrous, even-grained wood found in the Florida Keys and the West Indies.

It has long been valued for furniture. It is also used for musical instruments, veneers, and other purposes. Satinwood is classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Sapindales, family Rutaceae.

Our reference: 07674

Please feel free to email or call us (+44 20 8809 9605) to arrange a viewing in our North London warehouse.

Inventory