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ID #SA357317
FOR SALE
£2,275
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Magnificent & Grand French Three Piece Desk Set - Hand Painted Porcelain Inset C.1860
For sale by Puckerings
for sale €2,662     $2,889
£2,275
Puckerings

Puckerings

Sellingantiques Verified Since Jul 2009
Browse dealers 397 items
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    A quality online collection of fine english antique smalls with free worldwide shipping from london, england
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Id #SA357317
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Magnificent & Grand French Three Piece Desk Set - Hand Painted Porcelain Inset C.1860

19th century
For Sale by Puckerings
Description

Wonderful to find a top-notch, highly decorative and most unusual desk set, French in origin dating to around 1860. Made from nutty coloured burl Walnut, all three pieces are mounted with the most wonderful polished brass mounts all inset with fabulous hand painted porcelain plaques.

Our restorer had to remove all the mounts to professionally clean and on doing so found the name of the figure depicted on the plaques, "Ninon De Lenclos" a French Author, Courtesan, Freethinker and Patron of the Arts.

The set is made up of a Stationery box with brass swing handles each side; the box complete with a working tasselled key. The box opens to reveal the wonderful original gilded leather lining with the original paper lining the sides of the dividers. The lock and hinges are beautifully engraved, a true sign of quality.

The next piece is a hefty large oval Walnut Inkstand with a large glass inkwell to the rear, the brass on top inset with two larger porcelain plaques; the sides inset with six smaller plaques.

The third and final piece of the set is a desk blotter / portfolio with the original blue silk taffeta, the left side with a gussetted portfolio to store paper, letters and additional blotting paper, minor damage / tear to the side of the gusset; mentioned purely for accuracy.

A showy set perfect to showcase on the best of desk - tops; all in excellent condition. The box measures 9 1/2" x 4 1/2" x 5 1/2" tall; the inkstand measures 12 1/4" x 10" and the blotter measuring 11 1/2" x 9".

Item ID:36916

FREE Worldwide Registered Airmail Directly from London, England

Declaration

Puckerings has dated this Antique French Desk Set to the 1860s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA357317
Dealers Internal Reference
36916
Dealers Notes

FREE Worldwide Shipping Directly From London, England

Description
Wonderful to find a top-notch, highly decorative and most unusual desk set, French in origin dating to around 1860.
“
Made from nutty coloured burl Walnut, all three pieces are mounted with the most wonderful polished brass mounts all inset with fabulous hand painted porcelain plaques.
Puckerings
fig 1. A three-piece antique French desk set comprising a blotter cover, stationery box, and circular inkstand crafted from burr walnut with decorative brass strapwork and hand-painted porcelain miniature insets.
fig 1. Magnificent & Grand French Three Piece Desk Set - Hand Painted Porcelain Inset C.1860

Our restorer had to remove all the mounts to professionally clean and on doing so found the name of the figure depicted on the plaques, "Ninon De Lenclos" a French Author, Courtesan, Freethinker and Patron of the Arts.

fig 2. A three-piece antique French desk set comprising a blotter cover, stationery box, and circular inkstand crafted from burr walnut with decorative brass strapwork and hand-painted porcelain miniature insets.
fig 2. Magnificent & Grand French Three Piece Desk Set - Hand Painted Porcelain Inset C.1860

The set is made up of a Stationery box with brass swing handles each side; the box complete with a working tasselled key. The box opens to reveal the wonderful original gilded leather lining with the original paper lining the sides of the dividers. The lock and hinges are beautifully engraved, a true sign of quality.

fig 3. A three-piece antique French desk set comprising a blotter cover, stationery box, and circular inkstand crafted from burr walnut with decorative brass strapwork and hand-painted porcelain miniature insets.
fig 3. Magnificent & Grand French Three Piece Desk Set - Hand Painted Porcelain Inset C.1860

The next piece is a hefty large oval Walnut Inkstand with a large glass inkwell to the rear, the brass on top inset with two larger porcelain plaques; the sides inset with six smaller plaques.

The third and final piece of the set is a desk blotter / portfolio with the original blue silk taffeta, the left side with a gussetted portfolio to store paper, letters and additional blotting paper, minor damage / tear to the side of the gusset; mentioned purely for accuracy.

fig 4. A three-piece antique French desk set comprising a blotter cover, stationery box, and circular inkstand crafted from burr walnut with decorative brass strapwork and hand-painted porcelain miniature insets.
fig 4. Magnificent & Grand French Three Piece Desk Set - Hand Painted Porcelain Inset C.1860

A showy set perfect to showcase on the best of desk - tops; all in excellent condition. The box measures 9 1/2" x 4 1/2" x 5 1/2" tall; the inkstand measures 12 1/4" x 10" and the blotter measuring 11 1/2" x 9".

Item ID:36916

FREE Worldwide Registered Airmail Directly from London, England

Date of Manufacture

Puckerings has dated this Antique French Desk Set to the 1860s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA357317
Dealers Internal Ref
36916
Puckerings
Puckerings
Sellingantiques verified Since Jul 2009

A quality online collection of fine english antique smalls with free worldwide shipping from london, england

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Puckerings Profile Page

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A three-piece antique French desk set comprising a blotter cover, stationery box, and circular inkstand crafted from burr walnut with decorative brass strapwork and hand-painted porcelain miniature insets.
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Archive I A three-piece antique French desk set comprising a blotter cover, stationery box, and circular inkstand crafted from burr walnut with decorative brass strapwork and hand-painted porcelain miniature insets.

Magnificent & Grand French Three Piece Desk Set - Hand Painted Porcelain Inset C.1860

Archive II A three-piece antique French desk set comprising a blotter cover, stationery box, and circular inkstand crafted from burr walnut with decorative brass strapwork and hand-painted porcelain miniature insets. View II
Archive III A three-piece antique French desk set comprising a blotter cover, stationery box, and circular inkstand crafted from burr walnut with decorative brass strapwork and hand-painted porcelain miniature insets. View III
Archive IV A three-piece antique French desk set comprising a blotter cover, stationery box, and circular inkstand crafted from burr walnut with decorative brass strapwork and hand-painted porcelain miniature insets. View IV
Archive V A three-piece antique French desk set comprising a blotter cover, stationery box, and circular inkstand crafted from burr walnut with decorative brass strapwork and hand-painted porcelain miniature insets. View V
Archive VI A three-piece antique French desk set comprising a blotter cover, stationery box, and circular inkstand crafted from burr walnut with decorative brass strapwork and hand-painted porcelain miniature insets. View VI
Archive VII A three-piece antique French desk set comprising a blotter cover, stationery box, and circular inkstand crafted from burr walnut with decorative brass strapwork and hand-painted porcelain miniature insets. View VII
Archive VIII A three-piece antique French desk set comprising a blotter cover, stationery box, and circular inkstand crafted from burr walnut with decorative brass strapwork and hand-painted porcelain miniature insets. View VIII
Archive IX A three-piece antique French desk set comprising a blotter cover, stationery box, and circular inkstand crafted from burr walnut with decorative brass strapwork and hand-painted porcelain miniature insets. View IX
Archive X A three-piece antique French desk set comprising a blotter cover, stationery box, and circular inkstand crafted from burr walnut with decorative brass strapwork and hand-painted porcelain miniature insets. View X
Archive XI A three-piece antique French desk set comprising a blotter cover, stationery box, and circular inkstand crafted from burr walnut with decorative brass strapwork and hand-painted porcelain miniature insets. View XI
Enlarged Archival View
Puckerings

Puckerings
Telephone 07853 189 922
Location
London
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/puckerings
Verified Since Jul 2009
Items For Sale 397
Items Sold 7,615
Puckerings
Puckerings
Verified Since Jul 2009
View Dealer Info
Location: London, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/puckerings
Verified
Jul 2009
For Sale
397
Sold
7,615
A three-piece antique French desk set comprising a blotter cover, stationery box, and circular inkstand crafted from burr walnut with decorative brass strapwork and hand-painted porcelain miniature insets.
Magnificent & Grand French Three Piece Desk Set - Hand Painted Porcelain Inset c.1860
Ref: SA357317
A three-piece antique French desk set comprising a blotter cover, stationery box, and circular inkstand crafted from burr walnut with decorative brass strapwork and hand-painted porcelain miniature insets.
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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectDesk Sets
  • Period19th century
  • StyleFrench Second Empire
  • MaterialBurr Walnut, Brass, Porcelain, Cut Glass
  • ColourWarm Brown
  • MotifsBrass strapwork, porcelain cabochons, cut glass inkwell, scrollwork

This French Second Empire three-piece desk set dates from 1860 and comprises a stationery box, an oval inkstand, and a blotter cover. Fashioned from warm brown burr walnut, the set is decorated with polished brass strapwork and hand-painted porcelain miniature plaques depicting Ninon de Lenclos. The stationery box includes brass side swing handles and a working key with a red tassel, opening to reveal a gilded leather lining and paper-lined dividers with engraved brass hardware. The heavy oval inkstand features a cut glass inkwell to the rear, while the blotter portfolio contains blue silk taffeta interiors. The stationery box measures 24 cm by 11 cm by 14 cm tall, the inkstand measures 31 cm by 25 cm, and the blotter measures 29 cm by 23 cm. Ideal for an executive office desk or a gentleman's library, this ensemble provides a functional workspace accessory and a decorative centrepiece. The items display intricate brass scrollwork frames, visible wood grain patterns on the timber surfaces, and minute hand-painted portraits inset within the metal mounts. The blotter includes a gusseted portfolio on the left side with a minor tear to the fabric edge. Each component presents a cohesive visual theme suitable for period-inspired interiors and classical writing spaces.

FAQs

An antique French desk set typically comprises writing accessories such as a blotter, stationery box, and inkstand, designed to unify a formal writing table during the nineteenth century.

High-end desk sets from this period frequently combined fine timber veneers, such as burr walnut or rosewood, with ornate brass strapwork, cut glass inkwells, and hand-painted porcelain plaques.

Authentic pieces feature period joinery, hand-cut lead crystal glass, finely rendered miniature porcelain portraits, and natural age-related patination across the brass fittings.

Place these decorative items on an executive desk, library table, or side console to create a focal point that bridges historical craftsmanship with contemporary functional spaces.

Dust wood surfaces regularly with a soft microfibre cloth, apply beeswax sparingly, and clean brass mounts carefully without harsh chemical agents that could alter adjacent timber or porcelain inserts.
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