Antique French Ormolu Mounted Marquetry Bureau Plat C.1860

This is a very fine French antique ormolu mounted bureau plat which features fine quality floral marquetry and which dates from around 1860.

This beautiful piece of furniture has been made with artistic marquetry requiring the highest level of  craftsmanship. The top of this antique ormolu mounted bureau plat features very intricate floral marquetry decoration. Using a number of different and exotic veneers which include kingw ood, satin wood, burr walnut, and purple heart, the level of detail present here can only be described as extraordinary.

The central panel is worthy of particular attention, it being inlaid with a representation of an urn on a flower filled satin wood background together with a decorative border of foliage which has been rendered in burr walnut.

The top is completed with a highly decorative ormolu border which adds an additional level of elegance to this antique bureau plat, the frieze is inset with a border of green mica crystal and it also contains a useful drawer,

The desk is raised on ormolu mounted and turned reeded tapering legs which are joined by X-stretcher and are fitted with a striking central gilded turned finial.

Condition:

In really excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned, polished and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 76 cm x Width 129 cm x Depth 77 cm Height 54 cm  - Kneehole

Dimensions in inches:Height 2 foot, 6 inches x Width 4 foot, 3 inches x Depth 2 foot, 6 inchesHeight 1 foot, 9 inches - Kneehole

Ormolu - Gilt Bronze (from French 'or moulu', signifying ground or pounded gold) is an 18th-century English term for applying finely ground, high-carat gold in a mercury amalgam to an object of bronze.The mercury is driven off in a kiln leaving behind a gold-coloured veneer known as 'gilt bronze'.

The manufacture of true ormolu employs a process known as mercury-gilding or fire-gilding, in which a solution of nitrate of mercury is applied to a piece of copper, brass, or bronze, followed by the application of an amalgam of gold and mercury. The item was then exposed to extreme heat until the mercury burned off and the gold remained, adhered to the metal object.

After around 1830 because legislation had outlawed the use of mercury other techniques were used instead. Electroplating is the most common modern technique. Ormolu techniques are essentially the same as those used on silver, to produce silver-gilt..

Our reference: 07981X