Items Similar to Antique Victorian Marquetry & Ormolu Bonheur de Jour Bureau 19th Century
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 22
Antique Victorian Marquetry & Ormolu Bonheur de Jour Bureau 19th Century
$3,941.90
£2,850
€3,350.80
CA$5,443.73
A$5,973.07
CHF 3,126.03
MX$73,508.28
NOK 39,383.26
SEK 36,888.29
DKK 25,020.08
About the Item
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 walnut, the fabulous inlaid decoration and the exquisite ormolu mounts ensure that this bureau de dame will get noticed wherever it is placed.
The top has a pair of cupboards with glazed doors, ideal to display your ornaments and they flank a small drawer and a mirror.
The bureau stands on beautiful cabriole legs and has it's original working brass locks and keys.
This is a lovely piece which is sure to enhance any interior.
Condition:
In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned, polished and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.
Dimensions in cm:
Height 142 cm x Width 89 cm x Depth 54 cm
Dimensions in inches:
Height 4 foot, 8 inches x Width 2 foot, 11 inches x Depth 1 foot, 9 inches
A bonheur du jour (in French, bonheur-du-jour, meaning "daytime delight") is a type of lady's writing desk. It was introduced in Paris by one of the interior decorators and purveyors of fashionable novelties called marchands-merciers about 1760, and speedily became intensely fashionable.
The bonheur du jour is always very light and graceful, with a decorated back, since it often did not stand against the wall but was moved about the room. Its special characteristic is a raised back, which may form a little cabinet or a nest of drawers, or open shelves, which might be closed with atambour may simply be fitted with a mirror. The top, often surrounded with a chased and gilded bronze gallery, serves for placing small ornaments. Beneath the writing surface there is usually a single drawer, often neatly fitted for toiletries or writing supplies.
Early examples were raised on slender cabriole legs; under the influence of neoclassicism, examples made after about 1775 had straight, tapering legs. The marchand-mercier Simon-Philippe Poirierhad had the idea of mounting bonheurs du jour with specially-made plaques of Sèvres porcelainthat that he commissioned and for which he had a monopoly; the earliest Sèvres-mounted bonheur du jours are datable from the marks under their plaques to 1766-67. The choicer examples of the time are inlaid with marquetry or panels of Oriental lacquer, banded with exotic woods, with gilt-bronze mounts.
By the mid-1770s the bonheur du jour was being made in London, where it was simply called a "lady's writing-desk".
Figured Walnut and Burr Walnut (often referred to as Burl Walnut) were considered as the most attractive varieties of Walnut. Burr Walnut veneer was taken from the specific part of the tree where ‘growths’ sprouting smaller branches and/ or roots would occur. As these ‘growth’ areas were limited in both occurrence and size, larger veneers were hard to source and often on bigger furniture (tables, desks, bureaus, cabinets etc), these veneers would have to be carefully joined by matching up the pieces or blending them together.
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.
Our reference: A3897
About the Seller
5.0
Platinum Seller
Premium sellers with a 4.7+ rating and 24-hour response times
Established in 1983
1stDibs seller since 2012
1,393 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: <1 hour
Associations
LAPADA - The Association of Arts & Antiques Dealers
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: London, United Kingdom
- Return Policy
Authenticity Guarantee
In the unlikely event there’s an issue with an item’s authenticity, contact us within 1 year for a full refund. DetailsMoney-Back Guarantee
If your item is not as described, is damaged in transit, or does not arrive, contact us within 7 days for a full refund. Details24-Hour Cancellation
You have a 24-hour grace period in which to reconsider your purchase, with no questions asked.Vetted Professional Sellers
Our world-class sellers must adhere to strict standards for service and quality, maintaining the integrity of our listings.Price-Match Guarantee
If you find that a seller listed the same item for a lower price elsewhere, we’ll match it.Trusted Global Delivery
Our best-in-class carrier network provides specialized shipping options worldwide, including custom delivery.More From This Seller
View AllAntique French Marquetry Bonheur du Jour 19th Century
Located in London, GB
We are very pleased to be able to offer this rare antique French walnut and marquetry inlaid Bonheur du Jour, or Ladies Writing Desk, for sale.
Our experts have dated it to around 1...
Category
Antique 1850s French Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Antique Victorian Amboyna Inlaid Bonheur Du Jour 19th Century
Located in London, GB
Believed by our experts to date from around 1860, this antique Victorian Bonheur Du Jour is an imposing and functional item of furniture that is so typical of the Victorian era.
We ...
Category
Antique 1860s English Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ormolu, Brass
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
Vintage Satinwood Marquetry Carlton House Writing Desk 20th Century
Located in London, GB
Here we have a very attractive Carlton House Desk which has been hand crafted from the very finest satinwood and decorated with inlaid marquetry and dates from the late twentieth cen...
Category
1990s English Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Satinwood
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
19th Century French Rococo Revival Marquetry Secretaire a Abattant
Located in London, GB
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...
Category
Antique 1850s French Rococo Revival Secretaires
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
You May Also Like
Fine French Marquetry bureau, circa 1880.
Located in Brighton, Sussex
This exquisite 19th-century French marquetry bureau showcases exceptional craftsmanship and artistry. Adorned with intricate floral and landscape motifs, the bureau features a rich, ...
Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
French marquetry inlaid Ladies bureau, circa 1880
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality late 19th Century French Rosewood inlaid Bonheur Du Jour, having glazed cupboards and mirror above. A fall front bureau opening to reveal compartments within, drawers ...
Category
Antique 1890s French Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Mahogany
A Very Fine 19th Century Marquetry Inlaid Bureau Du Dame
Located in Dublin, IE
A very fine 19th Century richly patinated fruitwood Bureau Du Dame. This gorgeous writing desk is of exceptional quality, stunningly hand carved, line inlaid, ormolu mounted and wit...
Category
Antique 19th Century English Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ormolu
Antique French Louis XV Style Marquetry Inlay Petite Demilune Writing Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique French Louis XV Style Marquetry Inlay Petite Demilune Writing Desk. Item features marble top, green leather pull out writing surface, inlaid al...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Louis XVI Style Marquetry Writing Desk/ Bonheur du Jour
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
French Louis XVI Style Marquetry Writing Desk / Bonheur du Jour—Circa 1900s
This exquisite French Louis XVI-style bonheur du jour is a marquetry-inlaid writing desk, crafted in Fran...
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Desks
Materials
Ormolu
English Marquetry Inlaid Bureau De Dame
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A fine Victorian gilt-bronze mounted marquetry inlaid Bureau De Dame.
This richly decorated bureau de dame is of bombe shape beautifully inlaid overa...
Category
Antique 19th Century English Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Ormolu
More Ways To Browse
Ormolu Wall Mounts
Oriental Desk
Marquetry Bureau
Oriental Cupboard
19th Century 9 Drawer Writing Desks
Diminutive Writing Desk
English Bamboo Desks
Expanding Desk
French Curved Desk
Library Trestle Table
Metal Drafting Table
Peter Hvidt Teak Desk
Peter Lovig Boomerang
Platone Giancarlo Piretti
Regency Partners Desk
Rounded Writing Desk
Small Louis Desk
Teak Boomerang Table