Louis XVI-Period Cylinder Desk in Figured Mahogany

Large cylinder desk in solid mahogany and figured mahogany veneer, inlaid with ebony and brass stringing, veneered on all sides and opening with four drawers in the frieze and three stepped drawers.
Late Louis XVI-period work.

Description of the desk

Cylinder desk in mahogany and figured Saint-Domingue mahogany veneer on all sides, richly ornamented with brass stringing, itself doubled with ebony stringing, and brass mouldings.

It opens with four drawers arranged within the frieze and two lower pedestals, as well as three stepped drawers in the upper section. It is surrounded by an openwork brass gallery and rests on tapered legs with brass rings and fluting simulating pilasters, terminating in bronze sabots.

When opened, the cylinder reveals three drawers and two document compartments above, while the sliding writing surface, lined with green leather tooled in gold with small tools, once pulled forward, causes a second row of trompe-l'œil drawers to align beneath the previous one.

In the tradition of the great cylinder desks — one thinks of the King’s desk, which initiated the fashion — a single key operates the seven trefoil-shaped locks, while a small independent key is dedicated to opening the safe, concealed within the right-hand pedestal formed by a large drawer simulating two drawers.

The carcass, mainly constructed on a pine core, is relatively composite according to the various parts concerned: oak is used for the supporting rails, cherrywood for the sides of the drawers, and walnut for the safe compartment.

The desk in its period

This desk reflects the taste of the final years of the reign of Louis XVI, a period during which, following the fashion for all things English, mahogany became increasingly prominent in Parisian cabinetmaking. Rich polychrome marquetry was readily replaced by veneers selected for the beauty of their grain alone, enhanced only by dark stringing and fine metal mouldings. This is notably the approach adopted by Riesener, one of the greatest cabinetmakers of the period, leading the Louis XVI style towards a more austere aesthetic: almost no figurative marquetry, few imposing decorative bronzes; in their place, a highly legible architecture, the geometric lines of the drawers, the brown/black/gold contrast and, above all, the spectacular figuring of the mahogany.

Here, the decoration relies less on ornament than on the quality of the materials, and this large desk showcases, almost without interruption (it should also be noted in passing that the gallery usually surrounds a white marble top; it is much rarer to see a figured mahogany top as on this example), the figuring and shimmering grain of the mahogany veneer, while slender ebony and brass stringing and fine brass mouldings rigorously emphasise its architecture.

Its interest lies precisely in this geometric elegance of the late Louis XVI period and in the predominance given to mahogany, and the combination of figured mahogany and ebony associated with brass is by no means a secondary detail: here, it constitutes the entire decorative scheme. Dating from the end of the Louis XVI period, circa 1785–1790, it heralds the Directoire style.

Saint-Domingue mahogany

No doubt, in order to appeal to the great majority, with little regard for historical and geographical truth, we should say that our desk is made of Cuban mahogany (it would be more readily understood, apparently more flattering and unfortunately probably more marketable).

There they will find, in addition to documentation and supplementary photographs, a chapter in the description entitled: On the Overly Famous Cuban Mahogany and That of Hispaniola.

Condition, restoration and dimensions

The piece is presented in a truly remarkable state of preservation, retaining the entirety of its veneer (without even a single patch) and all of its bronze and brass fittings, including the locks and keys.

It has been inspected and French polished by our restorer, a master cabinetmaker.

Dimensions: 131.5 cm high × 141.5 cm wide × 66.5 cm deep.