FRANCE ÉPOQUE RÉGENCE

FRANCE ÉPOQUE RÉGENCE
FLAT DESK Pearwood veneer, gilt bronze, copper threads, leather
H. 78,5 cm, W. 180,5 cm, D. 90 cm
This elegant desk has a tripartite structure with, on the front, a large central drawer highlighted by a quarter-round cut-out, fl anked with two side compartments enhanced by violin cut-outs and each enclosing two drawers. The decoration of the piece of furniture, composed of a black-stained wood veneer underlined with copper nets, has a rich bronze ornamentation with motifs of lions mufl es, foliage and rosettes at the lock entries and mobile handles. Gilded bronze espagnolettes decorate and protect the sharp corners. The piece of furniture rests on four legs of hexagonal section, straight at the level of the belt and curved afterwards.
These legs are curved like crowbars and end in scrolled clogs, acanthus leaves, fl euron and pearl threads. The rectilinear top with a bronze moulded border is trimmed with a red-brown morocco with a gilded border.
After 1700, the so-called Mazarin desks with pedestals and multiple legs no longer suited the taste of the clientele.
Cabinetmakers were looking for a new piece of furniture.
As early as 1710, André-Charles Boulle (1642- 1732) shows the direction to follow, deciding to give up the pre-existing model. He designed the desk by lengthening the small writing table. The main difficulty lies in the relationship between the amplitude of the top and the reduction in the number of legs. Based on the architectural references of the buttresses, he decides to reinforce the supporting structure to relieve the pressure. From then on, the cabinetmakers in the wake of André-Charles
Boulle took up his structural scheme and throughout the 18th century they built offices of great diversity. Automatically translated by DeepL. To see the original version, click here.