Rare veneered wood secretaire cabinet, France, late 18th century – early 19th century

Rare veneered wood secretaire cabinet, France, late 18th century – early 19th century Measurements: cm W 105 x H 113 x D 35; height of the writing surface with drop-leaf open 75 cm Price: private negotiation Object accompanied by a certificate of authenticity The Louis XVI cabinet was made between the late 18th and early 19th centuries in France. Its unusual structure features particularly high legs for this type of furniture, which has a drop-leaf on the front, transforming it into a desk. Inside there is an open compartment and some small drawers veneered in bois de rose and the desk top lined with leather with gold-printed edging. On the under-top band is a drawer decorated with finely chiselled gilded bronzes with cornucopia motifs from which flowers emerge, ribbons with bows and geometric frames. Likewise, the uprights are enriched with gilded bronzes in the form of classicizing braziers with burning flames and frames with hemispherical elements. The sides are concave and widen slightly towards the back. This trick gives grace and movement to the overall structure. The uprights end with a quadrangular wooden element centered by corici and a round gilded bronze surmounted by bronze acanthus leaves. On the front, on the lower band, with a mixtilinear profile, there are other gilded bronze applications with phytomorphic elements and a classic-style vase with a still life of flowers and fruits. The four truncated inverted pyramid legs originate with a bronze band decorated with flowers and end with a gilded bronze ferrule chiselled with leafy elements. A small open top, connected to the legs, is surrounded by a pierced and gilded bronze railing. The same element partially surrounds the upper top of the cabinet, centered by white marble with gray veins. The furniture has a very refined and elegant finish conferred by the veneer with exotic woods of light colour, whose veins create chromatic effects playing with different shades. This very particular and unusual piece of furniture is very decorative, easily placed in living rooms, studies, bedrooms, entrances and corridors. Its versatile use allows it to be adapted to any environment, whether placed next to antique furniture or in modern furnishing contexts.