A fantastic mid 19th C French Bonheur du Jour by the renowned French cabinet maker Mathieu Befort. Mathieu followed his father Jean Baptise Befort into the cabinet business. His workshop was on the Neuve Saint Gilles Paris. Befort''s work was of the highest quality and he made pieces for Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie. This is a piece of the highest quality.The piece is in a Bonheur du Jour or ladies writing desk is in the classical style, the piece is in coromandel wood, with exceptionally well cast gilt decoration. The drawer fronts and central drop door are hand painted with classical landscapes and figural groups. Internally the piece is lined with satin wood and has to small stationary drawers and a leather tooled writing slope.The piece is topped with the original polished marble top and is signed Befort Jeune, the mark of Mathieu Befort to the frame below the marble.The piece is in overall excellent condition. There is some minor craquelure to the paintings and we...