Louis XV Marquetry Secretary, Stamped P. Roussel

A very fine Louis XV period secretary desk, double-bent on the front and also curved on the sides, stamped P. Roussel for Pierre Roussel (1723-1782), the renowned Parisian cabinetmaker who became a Master on August 21, 1745.
It is entirely veneered on three sides with violet wood, rosewood, and amaranth.
The front features a delightful marquetry decoration of flowers and foliage within shaped reserves on a frieze border.
The sides are also adorned with an elegant and sophisticated interplay of alternating lozenge and fern friezes within sinuous reserves.
It opens with two doors in its lower section and a drop-front that reveals a tiered interior composed of shelves, compartments, and six curved drawers.
The rounded front uprights are veneered in amaranth.
Aleppo breccia marble top. Original bronze mounts and bolts.

Dimensions
H. 140 cm x W. 102 cm x D. 42 cm

Parisian work
Stamped P. Roussel and JME hallmark under the marble top
Rosewood, violet wood, amaranth
18th century


Born into a family of modest carpenters, Pierre Roussel established himself on Rue de Charonne, in the Faubourg Saint-Antoine, under the sign "L'Image de Saint Pierre" (The Image of Saint Peter).

He was admitted as a Master Cabinetmaker in 1745.
Thanks to his skills as a cabinetmaker and especially as an exceptional marquetry artist, he quickly gained considerable renown. In 1762, he became a sworn member of his guild.
By 1767, he was considered one of the finest cabinetmakers of his time. Highly regarded by his peers, he became a representative of the cabinetmakers' guild in 1777 and then its head two years later. His abundant and varied production is of excellent quality and has adapted to all the styles of the 18th century with elegance and refinement.
Ref: Le Mobilier Français du XVIII° Siècle - Pierre Kjellberg