French Louis XVI Style Antique Bureau Plat Writing Desk circa 1880

FRENCH LOUIS XVI REVIVAL GOÛT-GREC BUREAU PLAT
Probably France, second half of the nineteenth century

30 1/4" H x 37 1/4" D x 72 3/4" W
23" knee clearance

Kingwood, tulipwood, and other veneers, gilt bronze mounts, leather writing surface
Loosely after the designs by Philippe Claude Montigny

A large and powerful bureau plat of extraordinary quality, it features a gilt-tooled maroon leather writing surface framed in mahogany veneers and protected with a finely molded bronze frame around all edges. The sitter's side hosts three deep hand dovetailed frieze drawers, the outer two with gilt-bronze molding framing Greek-key inlays, these flanking the more simple stepped-up central drawer. The sides feature beautifully detailed mounts with canons, a drum, a rifle, a trumpet and a flag below slides fitted with an intricately cast floral motif knob that withdraw to extend the writing surface substantially. The bold tapering legs are inset in each corner with heavy bronze fluting and terminate over squared sabots.

The desk revives the bureau à la grecque, a severe neoclassical form developed in France during the 1760s and 1770s. Its geometric drawer panels, bronze framed reserves, tapering legs, oak-leaf swags and architectural organization relate to the group of bureaux plats associated with Philippe Claude Montigny and René Dubois. These eighteenth century examples translated antique ornament into furniture of disciplined proportion, using Greek key decoration, gilt bronze borders, rosette blocks, and restrained figural or trophy mounts.

The present desk is not a direct copy of any single eighteenth century model, but it rather participates and echoes the essence of the designs, closely borrowing the motif and arrangements. The Greek key panels on the flanking drawers recall Montigny and more loosely the Dubois group, perhaps most closely aligned with the Montigny stamped example offered at Sotheby's in 2012 (Sale L12307, lot 22). The bronze work is of notably fine quality.

Condition: Worn original leather top with scuffs and surface history throughout. Minor veneer losses, including a more obvious loss above the frieze drawer, and general "estate" condition to the surfaces with minor blemishes and scuffs. Discoloration to the bronze, especially the framing around the top, which presents with trace verdigris and degradation of the lacquer. Retains two working keys. A few missing screws. Very fine and ready to place.

ref. 603YPP29N