Antique Louis Revival Writing Table Desk Bureau Plat c.1920
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This elegant and impressive walnut antique bureau plat with ormolu mounts has been crafted in the French Louis Revival style and dates from the early 20th Century around 1920.
The writing surface is worthy of particular attention being made from burgundy leather which has been beautifully inset with striking gold tooling and a wonderful ebonised border together with an ormolu mounted perimeter.
Being fully adorned with decorative ormolu handles and mounts, this antique bureau plat benefits from three frieze drawers on one size and together with three ‘dummy’ drawers on the other which means that this item of furniture can be placed anywhere in a room, not necessarily against a wall. It can therefore be freestanding in the middle of a room and look great from any direction.
The high quality and intricate marquetry of this Louis revival style piece is created with skillfully inlaid satinwood. The bureau plat has an abundance of ormolu mount decoration which makes it appear especially sumptuous. The bureau plat is mounted onto cabriole legs which are finished with ormolu sabot feet.
More about the materials - Ormolu
Ormolu is an 18th Century English term for a process that was used for producing a form of ‘gilt bronze’. The process involved applying finely ground high-carat gold in a mercury amalgam to a bronze object. When the object was subsequently fired in a kiln this process evaporated the mercury leaving a gold-coloured veneer with an extremely attractive finish. This was, however, a dangerous process with mercury being highly toxic and due to health concerns mercury is now no longer used in this process which has largely been replaced by more modern electroplating techniques instead.
Condition
This antique bureau plat is offered for sale in excellent condition having been extensively refurbished in our own workshops by our own craftsmen. This includes having the leather relined. Please take a good look at the photos to satisfy yourself as to the condition of this piece which can also be viewed at our London showroom.
Will it Fit?
The dimension of this Louis revival style antique bureau plat are are follows:
Dimensions in cm: Height 78cm x Width 183cm x Depth 89cm or, if you prefer;
Dimensions in inches: Height 2 feet, 7 inches x Width 6 feet, 0 inches x Depth 2 feet, 11 inches.
Viewing and Further Information
We are always completely delighted to show customers our items at our North London showroom and warehouse. Please email or call (+44 20 8809 9605) for an appointment. You can also email or call if you have any questions about this item. Our experts are always on hand and would be very happy to discuss any aspect of this lovely bureau plat with you. Please quote our item reference, 07618, so we know which piece you are interested in. We always have a large selection of similar items in stock.
Showroom Opening Hours:
Open Mon to Fri 10am - 5pm
Occasional Saturdays - please call first
Shipping
We are able to carefully pack and ship to almost any destination worldwide. However, please call for a quotation before purchasing the item and be aware that you will be liable for any customs duties or internal taxes due outside the European Union.
We ship free of charge to any UK mainland destination.
We adhere to the Distance Selling Regulations and offer a 14-day money back guarantee if you are not satisfied with the piece. Please be aware that you will be liable for the return shipping costs should this turn out to be the case, so do take the opportunity to view and/or discuss the item with us before you buy.
Dimensions in cm:
Height 78 x Width 183 x Depth 89
Dimensions in inches:
Height 2 feet, 7 inches x Width 6 feet, 0 inches x Depth 2 feet, 11 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: 07618
Please feel free to email or call us (+44 20 8809 9605) to arrange a viewing in our North London warehouse.
Shipping:
We ship worldwide and deliver to Mainland UK addresses free of charge.
A shipping cost to all other destinations must be requested prior to purchase.
To request a shipping quote for the items in your cart, please click HERE.
Delivery and return policy:
We require that someone be home on the agreed delivery day if applicable, otherwise a redelivery fee will apply.
In accordance with Distance Selling Regulations, we offer a 14-day money back guarantee if you are not satisfied with the item.
The item must be returned in its original packaging and condition.
Unless the item is not as described in a material way, the buyer is responsible for return shipping expenses.
Buyers are fully responsible for any customs duties or local taxes that may be incurred on items sent outside of the European Union.
