How often do these come up for sale?

Around 29 come to market on Sellingantiques in a year, and 77 different dealers have listed one. That spread says something about the trade: it's a form most dealers meet occasionally rather than stock in depth.

What period do most of them date from?

The dated field runs from 1750 to 1930. Precise years are the exception, though, with about four in five dated listings giving a reign or a century instead. "19th Century" is the largest bucket, followed by Victorian, then Edwardian and Georgian. Where a decade is given, the 1860s dominate, ahead of the 1880s and 1890s.

Are French and English examples different?

The French pieces run to kingwood and marquetry with gilt-metal mounts, and porcelain plaques when they carry them. They sit largely in the upper price band. The English ones are walnut, burr walnut, mahogany, rosewood and satinwood, often described as ladies' writing desks, and usually inlaid rather than mounted.

Do bonheur de jour come in pairs?

Very seldom. Only four sampled listings are pairs or matched pairs, and all four sit at the very top of the range. Singles are the norm.

Which timbers turn up most?

Walnut leads, with burr walnut a good part of that. Mahogany comes next, then kingwood, satinwood and rosewood. Beyond those, the sample records amboyna on several of the higher-priced pieces, and single appearances of harewood, burr yew, satin birch and sabicu.

What unusual features show up in the sample?

Specialist finishes appear once or twice each and never more: pietra dura, chinoiserie, Moorish taste, boulle. A decorated surface outside marquetry and gilt mounts is a one-off in this category. Construction throws up occasional oddities too, among them a bombé front, a cylinder bureau, a roll top, a marble top, a mirrored superstructure and a secret drawer.

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Antique Bonheur De Jour

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A bonheur de jour is a small writing desk on slender legs, with a raised tier of drawers, pigeonholes or a little cabinet sitting above a shallow writing surface.