Skip to main content
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 22

Antique Louis Revival Ormolu Mounted Bureau Plat Desk 19th Century

$8,949.18
£6,500
€7,656.02
CA$12,259.93
A$13,603.42
CHF 7,125.77
MX$166,814.50
NOK 90,637.29
SEK 85,557.74
DKK 57,095.77
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

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 bronze border, raised corner cartouches and an inset gold tooled green leather writing surface, above three frieze drawers on one side and dummy drawers on the other. It is freestanding, has fabulous decorative ormolu handles and mounts including female masks at the shoulders and Bacchic masks to the sides. It features working locks and keys and three capacious oak lined drawers for all your storage needs. It is raised on elegant cabriole legs with stunning figural ormolu mounts and lion's paw feet. This is a truly lovely piece which will display beautifully in any interior. Condition: In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned, polished waxed and releathered in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 78 x width 163 x depth 91 Dimensions in inches: Height 2 foot, 7 inches x width 5 foot, 4 inches x depth 3 feet 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-coloured 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. After around 1830 because legislation had outlawed the use of mercury other techniques were used instead. Electroplating is the most common modern technique. Ormolu techniques are essentially the same as those used on silver, to produce silver-gilt. Our reference: A2137
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 30.71 in (78 cm)Width: 64.18 in (163 cm)Depth: 35.83 in (91 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    circa 1860
  • Condition:
  • Seller Location:
    London, GB
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: A21371stDibs: LU950629522142

More From This Seller

View All
Antique French Louis Revival Ormolu Bureau Plat Desk, 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a gorgeous antique French Louis Revival gilt bronze mounted amaranth bureau plat, Circa 1880 in date. The rectangular top has a decorative...
Category

Antique 1880s French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ormolu

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 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 Empire Revival Ormolu Mounted Desk, 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is an exquisite French Empire Revival pedestal desk, circa 1880 in date. This desk has been beautifully crafted from flame mahogany. The top has a striking gold tooled black leather inset writing surface which has a decorative geometric inlaid satinwood and ebony border around it. It features beautifully cast gilded Ormolu mounts including angels, pharaonic herms above paw feet and swan escutcheons. It is further enhanced with male masks wearing nemes headress's on the sides, making it an incredibly imposing and impressive item of furniture. The desk features seven drawers for maximum storage, it is freestanding with a beautifully panelled back and comes complete with the original working locks and keys. This desk will soon become the centrepiece of your furniture collection, there is no mistaking the sophisticated quality and design and it is certain to enhance the style and elegance of any living area, bedroom, or reception. THE BOTANICAL NAME FOR THE MAHOGANY THAT THIS ITEM IS MADE OF IS SWIETENIA MACROPHYLLA AND THIS TYPE OF MAHOGANY IS NOT SUBJECT TO CITES REGULATION AND DOES NOT CONTAIN ANY RESTRICTED MATERIALS. Condition: In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned, French polished, waxed and releathered in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 76 x width 150 x depth 80 Dimensions in inches: Height 29.9 x width 59.1 x depth 31.5 Empire style, is an early 19th century design movement in architecture, furniture, other decorative arts, and the visual arts followed in Europe and America until circa 1830. The style originated in and takes its name from the rule of Napoleon I in the First French Empire, where it was intended to idealize Napoleon's leadership and the French state. The style corresponds to the Biedermeier style in the German-speaking lands, Federal style in the United States and to the Regency style in Britain. The previous style was called Louis XVI style, in France. The Empire style was based on aspects of the Roman Empire. It is the second phase of neoclassicism which is also called "Directoire", after a government system. Furniture typically had symbols and ornaments borrowed from the glorious ancient Greek and Roman empires. The furniture was made from heavy woods such as mahogany and ebony, imported from the colonies, with dark finishes often with decorative bronze mounts. Marble tops were popular as were Egyptian motifs like sphinxes, griffins, urns and eagles and the Napoleonic symbols, the eagle, the bee, the initials "I" and a large "N." Gilded bronze (ormolu) details displayed a high level of craftsmanship. Flame mahogany Thomas Sheraton - 18th century furniture designer, once characterized mahogany as "best suited to furniture where strength is demanded as well as a wood that works...
Category

Antique 1880s French Empire Revival Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ormolu

Antique Ormolu Mounted French Empire Revival Pedestal Desk 20th Century
Located in London, GB
This is an exquisite antique French Empire Revival pedestal desk, Circa 1920 in date. This desk has been beautifully crafted from flame mahogany. The top has a decorative ormolu bod...
Category

Vintage 1920s French Empire Revival Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ormolu

Antique French Louis Revival Ormolu Mounted dining table desk 20th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful antique French Louis Revival ormolu mounted dining table / desk, circa 1920 in date and in 18th Century style. The elegantly crafted oval walnut top features exq...
Category

20th Century French Dining Room Tables

Materials

Ormolu

You May Also Like

Very Fine Mid-20th Century Inlaid Ormolu Mounted Bureau Plat
Located in Dublin, IE
A very fine Mid-20th Century fruitwood bureau plat, fabulously carved, ormolu mounted, cross banded and inlaid throughout. The moulded, serpentine top of rectangular form with fluted ormolu mounted border with intricate scroll, ruffle and foliate detail to the corners and is fitted with a gorgeous green gilt embossed tooled leather writing skiver surface with a beautiful gilt foliate and scroll motif to the central reserve. Raised over serpentine single drawer frieze flanked with two short drawers, all cross...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th C.Louis XV Style Ormolu Mounted Bureau-Plat Desk Attr. Paul Sormani
By Paul Sormani
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Very Fine and Large French 19th Century Louis XV Style Ormolu Mounted Tulipwood Three-Drawer Bureau Plat - After a model by Joseph Baumhauer (died 1772) - Attributed to Paul Sormani (French-Italian 1817-1877). The serpentine shaped rectangular top enclosing a gilt tooled burgundy leather writing surface (worn) within a molded border above a long central drawer flanked by two drawers, with scrolled ormolu drawer-pulls, ormolu floral encadrements and acanthus corners co-raised on elegant cabriolet legs. (Unsigned - Unmarked). Circa: Paris, 1880. Paul Sormani (1817-1877): Born in Venice, Paul Sormani set up in Paris in the middle of the 19th century. He specialized in creating furniture and works of art and was known for his high quality reproductions of Louis XV and XVI furniture...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

A French 19th century Louis XV st. Kingwood and Ormolu Bureau Plat
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and high quality French 19th century Louis XV st. Kingwood and Ormolu Bureau Plat. The desk is raised by elegant cabriole legs with rich wrap around ormolu sabots. Ormolu ...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Ormolu

Enamel Decorated French Louis Revival Ormolu Mounted Bureau Desk Table Console
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Enamel decorated French Louis Revival Ormolu mounted Bureau plat partner desk table console mint Both sides symmetrical, yet one side has ability to open.
Category

20th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

19th Century French Kingwood Ormolu Mounted Desk
Located in Martlesham, GB
A superb quality large 19th century French Kingwood and ormolu mounted bureau-plat desk, having a rectangular shaped top with an ormolu moulded edge, decorative shell engraved corner...
Category

Antique 1860s French Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Kingwood

French 19th Century Louis XV Style Ormolu-Mounted Bureau Plat Desk
By Paul Sormani
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine and large French 19th century Louis XV style ormolu-mounted mahogany and kingwood three-drawer bureau plat attributed to Paul Sormani (French-Italian 1817-1877). The shaped rectangular top enclosing a gilt tooled brown leather writing surface within a molded border above a long central drawer enclosing a fine modeled mask of Hercules wearing the Nemean lion pelt centered by flat cast encadrements and rosewood veneered a quatre faces flanked by two short drawers with reticulated escutcheons of scantly clad frolicking putti and doves over gadrooned "C" scrolls, trellis patterned panels on a stylized shell within similarly framed encadrements raised on elegant cabriole legs surmounted by bearded satyr masks ending in acanthus case hairy paw feet beneath sides centering bacchic masks. Lock mechanism stamped W S M, 6068, a key (lacking skeleton key), and 148. Veuve Paul Sormani Et Fils was the widow of the highly esteemed furniture maker Paul Sormani (French-Italian 1817-1877). After his death around 1877 she and her son took over the management of the company continuing the tradition of producing fine French furniture of the highest calibre. An escutcheon and several mounts were examined on the reverse, and each was found to have the bronze master model initials "SJ:. Blue chalk inscription on underside Glle 117, Paris, circa 1880. Paul Sormani (1817-1877): Born in Venice, Paul Sormani set up in Paris in the middle of the 19th century. He specialized in creating furniture and works of art and was known for his high quality reproductions of Louis XV and XVI furniture...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu