Provençal Writing table or small desk, mid 18th century

An Elegant, Provençal writing table or small desk in natural walnut wood, carved, molded and waxed, in a rectangular quadrangular shape, curved on all sides; it opens with a long drawer following the movement of the belt sliding under the tray in the middle part of the belt. This one is centered with a giltbronze hand with cut sides and so typical threaded eyelets. The belt is made up of four animated crossbars all in curves and against decreasing vertical curves, embellished with a voluble cutout enhanced by energetic windings in loops wound in elegy called "colimaçon". The base is made up of four thin strongly arched feet punctuated with fine deer hooves, nicely put together with fine moldings to match the "colimaçon" of the apron. The whole is capped with a top consisting of a framed top encasing a panel with tawny "maroquin" (leather) marked with a so elegant gilding with small irons. The greatest care has been taken with the connecting elements of impeccable quality. Balance, nervousness, elegance and quality are the terms most appropriate to this elegant, typically Provençal table. This so specific work of the Provençal log masters gives this atypical piece of furniture all its letters of nobility; we find there the exuberance of midday combined with the theatrical taste of all-Italian magnificence. The very light patina makes it possible to appreciate all the strokes of the master sculptor which it highlights. Note the similarities of execution which are identical to those reserved for the famous Provençal chests of drawers; we find there, movement removed, generous nervousness, curves and cuts pronounced without forgetting the famous drop handle so atypical in gilded bronze which marks the Provençal exception in the French cabinetmaking of this mid-enlightenment around 1750. A writing table or small desk of this quality of execution is not very common in Provencal furniture, only the large farmhouses or the renowned wine estates or even the beautiful bastides could be proud of it; our model is therefore a rare example which must have been used alongside a Nîmes chest of drawers or other consoles and hunting buffets which are the magnificence of Provençal savoir vivre from the mid-18th century.