After Jean-Henri Riesener Louis XVI Cylindrical Secretary, Paris, 1880s

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After Jean-Henri Riesener Louis XVI Cylindrical Secretary, Paris, 1880s

About the Item

After Jean-Henri Riesener: Cylindrical Secretary, Paris, 1880s. Made of rosewood and other fine woods. Very beautifully proportioned and richly designed cylinder desk of the highest quality. This secretary used a cylinder secretary ("bureau à cylindre") of the royal court cabinet maker Jean-Henri Riesener (1735-1806) as a model, which was delivered to the Tulieren Palace on 21 December 1784 for the private apartments of the French Queen Marie-Antoniette and today stands in the Musée du Louvre (catalogue number OA5226). Signed "Peck" in the lock. Elegant pointed legs with small sabots. At the transition of the legs to the corpus cuffs in the form of acanthus leaves, richly designed key plates in the form of leaves and tendrils springing from a bouquet of flowers, in the centre a richly designed bronze mount with a crowd of musical, reading and amusing putti. Cylinder clasp with central medallion surrounded by fire-gilt tendrils and festoons, the medallion contains an arrangement of harp, flute, book and scrolls, inlaid in various precious woods. Concave receding head with fine openwork gallery, fine diamond marquetry on all sides. Behind the cylinder lock there is a multipart interior consisting of small drawers with thread inlays all around and a worktop in green leather. Jean-Henri Riesener was born in 1735 as Johann Heinrich Riesener in Gladbeck, Germany. Around 1755 his family emigrated to Paris. He is regarded as the best cabinetmaker and ébéniste of his generation. Riesener became the successor of the court carpenter Jean-François Oeben (1721-1763). Riesener became a specialist for functional furniture such as secretaries in Louis XV and Louis XVI style. These pieces of furniture were masterfully executed both stylistically and with an unprecedented technical sophistication. From circa 1769 until the French Revolution in 1789, Riesener was the court supplier to the nobility and created a large number of exquisite pieces of furniture. He was the undisputed master of his trade and achieved great prosperity. His masterpiece was the "Bureau du Roi", the king's secretary: the cylinder office for King Louis XV, which was begun by Oeben and completed by Riesener in 1769, still stands today in Versailles Palace and is regarded as one of the most important pieces of furniture in French history. Despite his excellent connections to the nobility, some of which had grown over decades, he was able to come to terms with the revolutionary government after the revolution of 1789. His expertise helped him to a position as arbitrator at the Commercial Court; one of his colleagues there was the world-famous history painter Jacques-Louis David. Riesener retired in 1801 and died in 1806. In his native town of Gladbeck there is a Riesener grammar school, a Riesener street and a Riesener fountain. In the 19th century his works often served as role models and can still be found at the highest prices in the international art trade and in renowned art museums worldwide. (Research and text: Art historian Jens J. Reinke, M.A.) The Louis Seize cylinder office has been completely restored, preserving its patina. The original leather surface has also been preserved.

Similar to:
Jean-Henri Riesener (Cabinetmaker)
Dimensions:
Height: 42.52 in (108 cm)Width: 43.31 in (110 cm)Depth: 25.2 in (64 cm)
Style:
Louis XVI (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Rosewood
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
1880-1889
Date of Manufacture:
1880s
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Additional measurements: - Depth when opened: 94 cm (37 inches) - Height of writing surface: 74 cm (29.1 inches).
Seller Location:
Kiel, DE
Reference Number:
Seller: DL-SEK510-B1stDibs: LU4407213640812