This is a fine and rare antique ormolu mounted French kingwood and marquetry bureau plat, Circa 1790 in date.
It has highly decorative ormolu mounts that are signed VD on the underside.
The shaped rectangular top has a decorative ormolu border which is inset with a superb shaped gilt-tooled browny-gray leather writing surface. It has one long central and two short shaped frieze drawers on one side and false drawers on the other. It is raised on cabriole legs headed by stunning scrolled acathus foliate espagnolettes and terminating in ormolu sabots.
It is freestanding and finished with beautiful foliate marquetry on all sides so that it can stand freely in the centre of your room.
Complete with the original working locks and key.
The locks are stamped VF Paris with the crossed keys mark.
The underside of the desk is stamped in ink: 'HOPILLIART et LEROY, 13 RUE DES ST. PERES, PARIS'
- The Maison Hopilliart was established in 1781 and still operates on the Rue des Saints-Pères under the name of Galerie Hopilliart Leroux. Marcel Proust was one of their more famous clients, purchasing numerous items there and even selling some of his own furniture through them. In a 1912 letter to his friend, the composer Reynaldo Hahn, Proust mentions a pair of tables de salon that Hahn examined for him at Hopilliart.
This is a truly lovely piece which will display beautifully in any interior.
In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned, polished, waxed and releathered in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.
Dimensions in cm:
Height 81 x Width 196 x Depth 97
Dimensions in inches:
Height 2 foot, 8 inches x Width 6 foot, 5 inches x Depth 3 foot, 2 inches
Our reference: A2147
