Louis XV Writing Desk 19th Century | Sellingantiques.co.uk

Name: A Louis XV Style Black Laquered Writing Table
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1238914
Price: 2800 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Cataloguer’s Note

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing

ObjectWriting Desks
Period19th century
StyleFrench Chateau
MaterialLacquered Wood, Ormolu, Leather
ColourBlack and Gold
MotifsSerpentine top, Cabriole legs, Ormolu mounts, Gilded sabots
SizeH 76 cm (30 in) x W 105 cm (41 in) x D 62 cm (24 in)

A French Louis XV style black lacquered writing table or bureau plat, dating from 1890, brings French Chateau charm to a study or drawing room. This piece stands 76 cm high, 105 cm wide, and 62 cm deep, offering a practical surface for daily correspondence or laptop work in a home today. The black lacquered wood construction contrasts with the gilded ormolu mounts, bronze handles, and sabots that accent the cabriole legs. Fine gilt bronze mounts detail the shoulders and corners, while decorative escutcheons punctuate the frieze containing three working drawers. The shaped black leather writing surface features blind tooling around the perimeter and sits within a serpentine top frame. Curved aprons shape the underside, and slender cabriole legs taper downwards to the floor, where gilded sabots cap each foot. The black and gold palette complements traditional or transitional interiors as a standalone desk.

FAQs

The Louis XV style, emerging in mid-18th-century France during the Rococo movement, is defined by asymmetrical curves, serpentine contours, cabriole legs, and ornate gilt bronze mounts. Writing tables from this era, often referred to as bureaux plats, feature flowing silhouettes and leather-lined tops designed for formal study.

Traditional construction involved solid oak framing wrapped in decorative veneers, lacquered finishes, or marquetry. High-grade cast bronze, gilded through mercurial fire-gilding (ormolu), formed the mounts, handles, and leg caps (sabots), while tool-embossed leather formed the central writing surface.

Authentic 18th-century examples showcase hand-cut dovetail joints, hand-chased bronze castings with fine chiselled detail, and signs of hand-planed secondary timbers. Later 19th- or 20th-century revival pieces often display machine-cut drawer linings, uniform screw threads, and smoother, modern casting techniques.

Position the desk as a focal point in a home office or library, paired with a modern upholstered desk chair to create balanced contrast. Complement the rich black finish and gilt mounts with minimalist desk accessories, contemporary task lighting, and structured artwork.

Dust the surface regularly using a soft, dry microfibre cloth. Avoid using harsh chemical solvents or liquid polishes on lacquered surfaces and clean ormolu mounts gently with a soft brush to prevent damaging the gilded patina.

Ebury Trading

A Louis XV Style Black Laquered Writing Table

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