A Louis XVI Style Escritoire

c. 1890

A Louis XVI style escritoire (or writing table) (French, c. 1890) by Bonnemaison, Paris, after a model by the famed French cabinet maker Jean-Henri Riesener (1734-1806). Composed of oak with mahogany veneer and ormolu mounts the table has a rectangular top with a gilt pierced metal gallery in a fleur-de-lis design around three sides. Below this is an ormolu molded edge which leads to the frieze drawer, the drawer is fitted with an elaborate keyhole plate of flanking winged putti, a matching plate is on the opposite side. The short ends of the table have central ormolu mounts in the form of female helmeted heads surrounded by wreaths, the corners of the table have elaborate flower garland mounts. The table stands on four cylindrical tapered legs mounted with spiraled ormolu grapevines and terminates in cast foliate sabots. The legs are connected by a shaped platform stretcher, forming a lower shelf, with a partial pierced gallery in the form of curling acanthus leaves.

French

mahogany veneer

ormolu

oak

29.5" x 22.75" x 17"

Gift of Mrs. Gladys Brooks Thayer.

PSNC.4410