19th Century Third Republic Secretaire Abattant, French

Dating from around 1850, this is a wonderful antique French Rococo Revival Secretaire a Abattant featuring ormolu mounted mahogany, gonzalo alves and marquetry. A Secretaire a abatt...

A 19th-century secrétaire abattant of exceptional quality. This beautiful piece consists of a center cabinet with a tooled leather writing surface and five small drawers and a lower...

Beautiful upright secrétaire from the French Empire period. The desk is made of oak with burr walnut veneer, decorated with bronze ormolu elements. These are typical of the French Em...

A unique secretaire abattant cabinet with drop down writing panel with interior carved wooden rails in a yellow color wood finish. The fall front has...

A fine quality 19th century French ebonized secretaire abattant, having its original brocatelle marble-top, classical gilded ormolu mounts of swag, ...

A Louis Philippe period (1830–1848) fruitwood secretaire abattant fall front desk. Born in France in the mid-19th century, hand-crafted of rich solid fruitwood with warm wood tones, subtle grain detail, and nicely aged mellow patina over the whole. Finished in French Empire taste, having a molded cornice, concealed ogee frieze drawer with dovetail joinery, over fall front panel, opening to reveal original fitted interior gallery, with inset gilt tooled leather writing surface, large open shelf cubby, six drawers of various size, above double-door cabinet with brass shield escutcheon that opens to provide generous storage space, and an additional lower drawer for valuables hidden in the base molding, rising on square feet. Dimensions: (approx) 56.75" High 41" Wide, 17.5" Deep History/Back Story: Louis Philippe furniture had the same types and forms as the earlier French Restoration style, but with less decoration; comfort was the primary consideration. During the turbulent French Revolution and following Napoleon rule, Louis Philippe (1773-1850) remained in exile for 21 years until the Bourbon Restoration, when he became the King of the French from 1830 to 1848. For the first time, the developing upper class–not the monarchy–influenced the progression of this style’s characteristics. However, King Louis Philippe’s personality still inspired many aspects.  His casual nature reflected this style’s informal, comfortable build. Much of the style was taken from the personality of the King himself. Unlike his Bourbon predecessors, he wore business dress...