Want more images or videos?

Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 11

19th Century Marquetry Bureau Plat Writing Table, French

$7,237.71List Price

About the Item

This is a gorgeous antique French ormolu mounted marquetry burr walnut, bureau plat or centre table, circa 1850 in date. This fabulous table features beautiful marquetry decoration of walnut, gonzalo alves and purple heart with elegant ormolu borders. The central panel is beautifully inlaid with musical instruments on a flower filled ebony ground. There is a useful and capacious frieze drawer which is fitted with the original working lock and key. The table stands on turned and reeded legs joined by inlaid X-stretchers with a striking central ormolu mounted turned finial. It is a beautiful piece which is going to stand out wherever you choose to place it. Condition: In really excellent condition having been beautifully restored in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 74 x Width 129 x Depth 75 Height 55 x Width 78 - Kneehole Dimensions Dimensions in inches: Height 2 feet, 5 inches x Width 4 feet, 3 inches x Depth 2 feet, 5 inches Height 1 foot, 10 inches x Width 2 feet, 7 inches - Kneehole Dimensions Ormolu - (from French 'or moulu', signifying ground or pounded gold) is an 18th century English term for applying finely ground, high-carat gold in a mercury amalgam to an object of bronze. The mercury is driven off in a kiln leaving behind a gold-colored veneer known as 'gilt bronze'. The manufacture of true ormolu employs a process known as mercury-gilding or fire-gilding, in which a solution of nitrate of mercury is applied to a piece of copper, brass, or bronze, followed by the application of an amalgam of gold and mercury. The item was then exposed to extreme heat until the mercury burned off and the gold remained, adhered to the metal object. No true ormolu was produced in France after around 1830 because legislation had outlawed the use of mercury. Therefore, other techniques were used instead but nothing surpasses the original mercury-firing ormolu method for sheer beauty and richness of color. Electroplating is the most common modern technique. Ormolu techniques are essentially the same as those used on silver, to produce silver-gilt (also known as vermeil). Burr Walnut refers to the swirling figure present in nearly all walnut when cut and polished, and especially in the wood taken from the base of the tree where it joins the roots. However the true burr is a rare growth on the tree where hundreds of tiny branches have started to grow. Burr walnut produces some of the most complex and beautiful figuring you can find. Marquetry is decorative artistry where pieces of material (such as wood, mother-of-pearl, pewter, brass silver or shell) of different colors are inserted into surface wood veneer to form intricate patterns such as scrolls or flowers. The technique of veneered marquetry had its inspiration in 16th century Florence. Marquetry elaborated upon Florentine techniques of inlaying solid marble slabs with designs formed of fitted marbles, jaspers and semi-precious stones. This work, called opere di commessi, has medieval parallels in Central Italian "Cosmati"-work of inlaid marble floors, altars and columns. The technique is known in English as Pietra Dura, for the "hardstones" used: onyx, jasper, cornelian, lapis lazuli and colored marbles. In Florence, the Chapel of the Medici at San Lorenzo is completely covered in a colored marble facing using this demanding jig-sawn technique. Techniques of wood marquetry were developed in Antwerp and other Flemish centers of luxury cabinet-making during the early 16th century. The Craft was imported full-blown to France after the mid-seventeenth century, to create furniture of unprecedented luxury being made at the royal manufactory of the Gobelins, charged with providing furnishings to decorate Versailles and the other royal residences of Louis XIV. Early masters of French marquetry were the Fleming Pierre Golle and his son-in-law, André-Charles Boulle, who founded a dynasty of royal and Parisian cabinet-makers (ébénistes) and gave his name to a technique of marquetry employing shell and brass with pewter in arabesque or intricately foliate designs.

Dimensions:
Height: 29.14 in (74 cm)Width: 50.79 in (129 cm)Depth: 29.53 in (75 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Ormolu,Walnut,Marquetry
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
1850-1859
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1850
Condition:
Seller Location:
London, GB
Reference Number:
Seller: 071661stDibs: LU95064682213

Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Kingwood Writing Desk Bureau Plat

$12,500

H 30 in W 33 in D 83 in

Fine C19TH French Kingwood & Marquetry Bureau Plat /Writing Table

By Jean-François Oeben

Located in Dereham, GB

Fine C19TH French Burr Walnut & Marquetry Bureau Plat /Writing Table Black Leather inset top, gold tooling decoration, with Walnut cross banding. thumb mould edge. Shaped Burr Waln...

Category

Antique 1870s French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Fine C19TH French Kingwood & Marquetry Bureau Plat /Writing Table

$3,860 Sale Price

20% Off

H 27.56 in W 49.61 in D 31.11 in

19th Century French Bureau Plat

Located in Gloucestershire, GB

19th century French bureau plat featuring beautifully veneered wood surface and black leather top. Framed by a gilt brass border. The desk has three drawers across the front with ela...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Wood

19th Century French Bureau Plat

$6,369

H 29.93 in W 55.12 in D 31.5 in

19th Century Louis XV Style Bureau Plat Writing Table

Located in Berlin, DE

Bureau plat in the style of the Louis XV Napoleon III Paris, circa 1850-1880. In Bois-Satiné veneer, all-round full-length mirror veneer with seed beads. With very finely chiselled,...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Beech

19th Century Louis XV Style Bureau Plat Writing Table

$27,214

H 31.89 in W 55.12 in D 30.52 in

19th Century French Ebonised Bureau Plât

Located in London, GB

A 19th Century French ebonised extendable bureau plât in Louis XV style with a red leather top. Decorated with brass fillets, bronze mountings and four arched feet with gilt bronze ...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass, Bronze

19th Century French Ebonised Bureau Plât

$10,742

H 31.5 in W 63.39 in D 29.93 in

19th Century French Empire Style Bronze Mounted Bureau Plat Writing Desk

Located in Forney, TX

A handsome antique French gilt bronze mounted mixed wood bureau plat writing desk with warm dark patina. circa 1880 France, late 19th century, high quality hand crafted workmanship...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal, Brass, Bronze, Ormolu

19th Century French Empire Style Bronze Mounted Bureau Plat Writing Desk

$3,000

H 30 in W 55 in D 29 in

Small 19th Century French Boulle Bureau Plat

By André-Charles Boulle

Located in Brighton, Sussex

A good quality small late 19th century French Boulle inlaid bureau plat, having an inset leather top, brass inlay and tortoiseshell to the top, frieze and legs, gilded ormolu mounts, a single frieze drawer with a Bramah lock...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Small 19th Century French Boulle Bureau Plat

$5,238

H 28.35 in W 29.53 in D 18.9 in

French 19th Century Bureau Plat, by Zweiner

Located in Brighton, Sussex

This exquisite Louis XVI style bureau plat, crafted in the 19th century by Zweiner, showcases the elegance of French design. Featuring a luxurious inset leather top, the piece is ado...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th Century Bureau Plat, by Zweiner

$52,387

H 30.32 in W 48.04 in D 26.78 in

19th Century antique Louis XV Style Bureau Plat Writing Table bronze

Located in Berlin, DE

Castle worthy desk, solid wood. Rosewood veneer edged by finely engraved brass fittings. On angled, with four looking forward, imposing female busts on curly legs, on all sides scalloped, dreischübige frame with slightly recessed and elevated knee compartment. Protruding, profiled and curved writing...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

19th Century antique Louis XV Style Bureau Plat Writing Table bronze

$12,643

H 29.53 in W 59.85 in D 29.53 in

19th Century Louis XVI Style Leather Top Writing Table / Bureau Plat

Located in Madrid, ES

A 19th century Louis XVI style French writing table or desk, known as a "bureau plat”. It has a leather top writing surface, ormolu bronze details, and three locking drawers with fal...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ormolu

19th Century Louis XVI Style Leather Top Writing Table / Bureau Plat

$7,827

H 31.5 in W 57.09 in D 31.5 in

More From This Seller

View All

Antique French Bureau Plat Writing Table Desk 19th Century

Located in London, GB

This is an attractive antique French ormolu mounted Gonçalo Alves and wood bureau plat, dating from Circa 1860. As you can see from the photographs, this delightful French writing t...

Category

Antique 1860s Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ormolu

Antique French Bureau Plat Writing Table Desk 19th Century

$5,859

Antique French Ormolu Mounted Marquetry Bureau Plat 19th Century

Located in London, GB

This is a fabulous French antique ormolu mounted bureau plat which features fine quality floral marquetry and which dates from around 1860. This beautiful piece of furniture has been made with artistic marquetry requiring the highest level of craftsmanship. The surface of the table top of this antique ormolu mounted bureau plat features very intricate floral marquetry decoration. Using a number of different and exotic veneers which include walnut, goncalo alves, satinwood, burr walnut, and purpleheart, the level of detail present here can only be described as extraordinary. The central panel is worthy of particular attention, it being inlaid with a representation of an urn on a flower filled satinwood background together with a decorative border of foliage which has been rendered in mahogany and burr walnut. As you can see from the images provided the imposing table top is completed with a highly decorative ormolu border which adds an additional level of elegance to this antique bureau plat...

Category

Antique 1860s French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ormolu

Antique French Ormolu Mounted Marquetry Bureau Plat 19th Century

$10,684

Antique Monumental French Empire Bureau Plat Desk Writing Table 19th Century

Located in London, GB

This is a fine antique French Empire ormolu mounted mahogany bureau plat, circa 1870 in date. The rectangular top has an inset gold-tooled green leather writing surface with a very...

Category

Antique 1870s French Empire Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ormolu

Antique Monumental French Empire Bureau Plat Desk Writing Table 19th Century

$12,062

Antique Petite French Ormolu Mounted Bureau Plat 19th Century

Located in London, GB

This is an fine and beautiful petite French Louis XV Revival goncalo alves and ormolu mounted bureau plat, circa 1850 in date. This fantastic bureau plat features an ornate serpentin...

Category

Antique 1850s French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Antique Petite French Ormolu Mounted Bureau Plat 19th Century

$4,618

Antique Louis Revival Ormolu Mounted Bureau Plat Desk 19th Century

Located in London, GB

This is a gorgeous antique French Louis Revival gilt bronze mounted amaranth bureau plat, Circa 1860 in date. The shaped top has a decorative gilt ...

Category

Antique 1860s French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ormolu

Antique Louis Revival Ormolu Mounted Bureau Plat Desk 19th Century

$8,960

Antique Victorian Marquetry & Ormolu Bonheur de Jour Bureau 19th Century

Located in London, GB

This is a beautiful antique Victorian burr walnut and ormolu mounted inlaid Bonheur Du Jour, or Ladies writing desk, circa 1860 in date. The gorgeous grain and colour of the burr ...

Category

Antique 1860s Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Antique Victorian Marquetry & Ormolu Bonheur de Jour Bureau 19th Century

$3,929

19th Century Marquetry Bureau Plat Writing Table, French

About the Item

You May Also Like

Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

19th Century French Kingwood Writing Desk Bureau Plat

Antique 1870s French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Fine C19TH French Kingwood & Marquetry Bureau Plat /Writing Table

Antique 19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

19th Century French Bureau Plat

Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

19th Century Louis XV Style Bureau Plat Writing Table

Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

19th Century French Ebonised Bureau Plât

Antique Late 19th Century French Empire Desks and Writing Tables

19th Century French Empire Style Bronze Mounted Bureau Plat Writing Desk

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Small 19th Century French Boulle Bureau Plat

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

French 19th Century Bureau Plat, by Zweiner

Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

19th Century antique Louis XV Style Bureau Plat Writing Table bronze

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

19th Century Louis XVI Style Leather Top Writing Table / Bureau Plat

More From This Seller

Antique 1860s Desks and Writing Tables

Antique French Bureau Plat Writing Table Desk 19th Century

Antique 1860s French Desks and Writing Tables

Antique French Ormolu Mounted Marquetry Bureau Plat 19th Century

Antique 1870s French Empire Desks and Writing Tables

Antique Monumental French Empire Bureau Plat Desk Writing Table 19th Century

Antique 1850s French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables

Antique Petite French Ormolu Mounted Bureau Plat 19th Century

Antique 1860s French Desks and Writing Tables

Antique Louis Revival Ormolu Mounted Bureau Plat Desk 19th Century

Antique 1860s Desks and Writing Tables

Antique Victorian Marquetry & Ormolu Bonheur de Jour Bureau 19th Century

Recently Viewed