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ID #SA1229552
FOR SALE
£3,450
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French Boulle Work Desk
For sale by Jane Short Antiques
for sale €4,037     $4,382
£3,450
Jane Short Antiques

Jane Short Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Mar 2020
Browse dealers 186 items
  • About Us
    30 years of expertise in 17th- to early 20th-century furniture and fine art
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Id #SA1229552
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French Boulle Work Desk

19th century
Description

A magnificent 19th Century ebonised, scarlet tortoiseshell and boullework pedestal desk, with a three quarter pierced gallery. There are nine drawers with each opening on a key.

The black leather tooled and gilded surface is all original. The upper section with three drawers sits on two pedestals with the whole culminating on brass castors.

The desk is decorated on all sides with the back also having gilded decoration so can be placed anywhere in a room.

In very good original condition with all the boulle work present and intact.

Circa 1880.

We can discuss delivery in UK and can calculate the cost for international delivery.

Payment by bank transfer, PayPal or card via telephone

Date of Manufacture

Jane Short Antiques has dated this French Boulle Pedestal Desk to the 19th Century.

Physical Dimensions
Height
68cm (26.77")
Width
121cm (47.64")
Depth
62cm (24.41")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1229552
Dealers Internal Reference
A0530
Description
A magnificent 19th Century ebonised, scarlet tortoiseshell and boullework pedestal desk, with a three quarter pierced gallery. There are nine drawers with each opening on a key.

The black leather tooled and gilded surface is all original.

“
The upper section with three drawers sits on two pedestals with the whole culminating on brass castors.
Jane Short Antiques
fig 1. An ebonised French pedestal desk featuring red tortoiseshell and brass Boulle marquetry inlay, multiple drawers, a leather writing top, and a brass gallery.
fig 1. French Boulle Work Desk

The desk is decorated on all sides with the back also having gilded decoration so can be placed anywhere in a room.

In very good original condition with all the boulle work present and intact.

Circa 1880.

We can discuss delivery in UK and can calculate the cost for international delivery.

Payment by bank transfer, PayPal or card via telephone

Date of Manufacture

Jane Short Antiques has dated this French Boulle Pedestal Desk to the 19th Century.

Height
68cm (26.77")
Width
121cm (47.64")
Depth
62cm (24.41")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1229552
Dealers Internal Ref
A0530
Jane Short Antiques
Jane Short Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Mar 2020

30 years of expertise in 17th- to early 20th-century furniture and fine art

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Jane Short Antiques Profile Page

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An ebonised French pedestal desk featuring red tortoiseshell and brass Boulle marquetry inlay, multiple drawers, a leather writing top, and a brass gallery.
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Archive I An ebonised French pedestal desk featuring red tortoiseshell and brass Boulle marquetry inlay, multiple drawers, a leather writing top, and a brass gallery.

French Boulle Work Desk

Archive II An ebonised French pedestal desk featuring red tortoiseshell and brass Boulle marquetry inlay, multiple drawers, a leather writing top, and a brass gallery. View II
Archive III An ebonised French pedestal desk featuring red tortoiseshell and brass Boulle marquetry inlay, multiple drawers, a leather writing top, and a brass gallery. View III
Archive IV An ebonised French pedestal desk featuring red tortoiseshell and brass Boulle marquetry inlay, multiple drawers, a leather writing top, and a brass gallery. View IV
Archive V An ebonised French pedestal desk featuring red tortoiseshell and brass Boulle marquetry inlay, multiple drawers, a leather writing top, and a brass gallery. View V
Archive VI An ebonised French pedestal desk featuring red tortoiseshell and brass Boulle marquetry inlay, multiple drawers, a leather writing top, and a brass gallery. View VI
Archive VII An ebonised French pedestal desk featuring red tortoiseshell and brass Boulle marquetry inlay, multiple drawers, a leather writing top, and a brass gallery. View VII
Archive VIII An ebonised French pedestal desk featuring red tortoiseshell and brass Boulle marquetry inlay, multiple drawers, a leather writing top, and a brass gallery. View VIII
Archive IX An ebonised French pedestal desk featuring red tortoiseshell and brass Boulle marquetry inlay, multiple drawers, a leather writing top, and a brass gallery. View IX
Archive X An ebonised French pedestal desk featuring red tortoiseshell and brass Boulle marquetry inlay, multiple drawers, a leather writing top, and a brass gallery. View X
Archive XI An ebonised French pedestal desk featuring red tortoiseshell and brass Boulle marquetry inlay, multiple drawers, a leather writing top, and a brass gallery. View XI
Archive XII An ebonised French pedestal desk featuring red tortoiseshell and brass Boulle marquetry inlay, multiple drawers, a leather writing top, and a brass gallery. View XII
Archive XIII An ebonised French pedestal desk featuring red tortoiseshell and brass Boulle marquetry inlay, multiple drawers, a leather writing top, and a brass gallery. View XIII
Archive XIV An ebonised French pedestal desk featuring red tortoiseshell and brass Boulle marquetry inlay, multiple drawers, a leather writing top, and a brass gallery. View XIV
Archive XV An ebonised French pedestal desk featuring red tortoiseshell and brass Boulle marquetry inlay, multiple drawers, a leather writing top, and a brass gallery. View XV
Enlarged Archival View
Jane Short Antiques

Jane Short Antiques
Telephone 07850 937057 or 07540 126714
Location
Sudbury
Suffolk
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/janeshort
Verified Since Mar 2020
Items For Sale 186
Items Sold 960
Jane Short Antiques
Jane Short Antiques
Verified Since Mar 2020
View Dealer Info
Location: Sudbury, Suffolk, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/janeshort
Verified
Mar 2020
For Sale
186
Sold
960
An ebonised French pedestal desk featuring red tortoiseshell and brass Boulle marquetry inlay, multiple drawers, a leather writing top, and a brass gallery.
French Boulle Work Desk
Ref: SA1229552
An ebonised French pedestal desk featuring red tortoiseshell and brass Boulle marquetry inlay, multiple drawers, a leather writing top, and a brass gallery.
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Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectDesks
  • Period19th century
  • StyleFrench Napoleon III
  • MaterialEbonised Wood, Brass, Tortoiseshell, Leather
  • ColourBlack and Gold
  • MotifsBoulle marquetry, Brass gallery, Ebonised frame, Pedestal drawers
  • SizeH 68 cm (27 in) x W 121 cm (48 in) x D 62 cm (24 in)

This nineteenth-century French Napoleon III pedestal desk stands as a grand piece of furniture for a gentleman's library, measuring 68 cm high, 121 cm wide, and 62 cm deep. It uses ebonised wood, scarlet tortoiseshell, brass, and leather in a striking black and gold colour scheme. The top surface consists of black leather with tooling and gilding, bordered by a pierced brass gallery. The upper section contains three drawers, resting upon two pedestals that house a total of nine drawers, each fitted with keyhole hardware and Boulle marquetry inlay of brass and red tortoiseshell. The construction features elaborate brass stringing and mouldings outlining the panels and drawers, with central brass mounts on the pedestals and plinth bases below. Gilded decoration adorns all sides, allowing freestanding placement within a room. In a contemporary home, this desk serves as a functional workspace in a study or home office, offering generous storage through its multiple drawers. The ebonised finish provides a formal dark appearance, contrasted by the warmth of the red tortoiseshell and the reflective quality of the brass inlay. The original condition retains all boulle work intact and complete with keys for the drawers. The pedestal design and finished back enable placement in the centre of a room rather than strictly against a wall, making it a versatile statement piece for daily administrative tasks or writing.

FAQs

Boulle marquetry is an inlay technique developed by Andre-Charles Boulle during the reign of Louis XIV, combining cut sheet brass and tortoiseshell set into an ebonised wood substrate.

Boullework desks traditionally incorporate sheet brass inlay, tortoiseshell veneers, ebonised hardwood frames, leather writing surfaces, and cast brass or ormolu mounts.

Authentic pieces feature hand-cut brass marquetry, natural tonal variation in the tortoiseshell underlay, substantial weight from dense hardwood frames, and hand-chased brass mounts.

A Boullework desk acts as a central focal point within a study or library, contrasting against neutral walls, tailored leather seating, and contemporary architectural lighting.

Maintain stable indoor humidity levels to prevent tortoiseshell from lifting, dust gently with a dry microfibre cloth, and avoid abrasive polishes that damage inlay work.
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