Antique Victorian Amboyna Inlaid Bonheur Du Jour c.1860

Ref: 08143

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Believed by our experts to date from around 1860, this Antique Victorian Bonheur Du Jour is an imposing and functional item of furniture that is so typical of the Victorian era.

We are pleased to be able to offer for sale, in excellent condition, this Victorian Bonheur Du Jour, or Ladies Writing Desk at an excellent price and complete with free delivery to any mainland UK destination.

Our experts have dated this item to around 1860 and it really is in extraordinary condition considering its age. It has, of course, been expertly restored by our own team of restorers in our own workshops.

To the top of the piece are decorative pierced brass galleries. The Bonheur du jour is made from amboyna and thuya wood – both very rare and expensive timbers. The piece is decorated throughout with Sevres porcelain plaques which have been hand painted and depict Madam Dubarry and Madam De Montesson along with floral sprays and cherubs. There are also a number of very fine ormolu mounts. Please also note the use of kingwood crossbanding. This is surely an exceptional example of quality and design.

This ladies writing desk has a large central drawer which has a slide for writing. This is still fitted with the original inset gold tooled navy blue leather writing surface. There are two further drawers situated over a mirror backed two-shelf under tier. It is all raised on strong yet elegant turned feet.

Viewing & Further Information

To find out more about this item or to ask any questions that you may have please feel free to call our experts or send us an email using the contact details shown above. When contacting us please quote the item reference.

You are most welcome to visit our north London showroom and view this item, along with many more that we currently have in stock. If making a long journey, please telephone or email us to ensure that the item you want hasn’t already been sold as we do have a rapid turnaround.

The showroom is open 10am to 5pm weekdays and on occasional Saturdays - please call before travelling on a Saturday.

Please be aware that any items used to stage this piece, e.g. the clock and urns, are not included in the sale but may be available separately.

Shipping, Delivery and Return

This is a very special antique Victorian bonheur du Jour and it 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 bonheur du jour, 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 145 x Width 132 x Depth 53

Height 64 - Kneehole

Dimensions in inches:

Height 4 foot, 9 inches x Width 4 foot, 4 inches x Depth 1 foot, 9 inches

Height 2 feet, 1 inch - Kneehole

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: 08143

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

Inventory