Search 0
6,109  PAGES BROWSED TODAY PAGES TODAY • 0 ANTIQUES UPLOADED TODAYNEW ARRIVALS
Sorted by
Per page
JOIN AS A SELLER DEALER LOGIN
Selling Antiques Logo
0
Saved
GIFTS
LATEST STOCK
Home
Return
Dealer Login
500+ Shops
Dealers
Newly Added
0
Saved
Antiques dealer?
Join as a Seller
Sort Order
Items Per Page
sellingantiques.co.uk
Browse Categories
Sort order
Relevant Links
Items per page
ID #SA1219569
FOR SALE
£995
Email Phone
Save
French Marquetry Secrétaire Cabinet with Ormolu
For sale by Arundel Decorative
for sale €1,164     $1,264
£995
Arundel Decorative

Arundel Decorative

Sellingantiques Verified Since Jan 2026
Browse dealers 35 items
  • About Us
    Decorative french and period english furniture
↓ Relevant Links
Id #SA1219569
PDF SHARE
SAVE

French Marquetry Secrétaire Cabinet with Ormolu

19th century
Description

A beautifully made French marquetry secrétaire cabinet, dating from around 1880, richly decorated and full of late‑19th‑century Parisian elegance. The façade is adorned with intricate floral and scrolling marquetry, executed in contrasting veneers that create depth, warmth, and a refined decorative rhythm across the drawers and fall‑front featuring an ornate locking key.

The cabinet is framed with fine ormolu mounts—crisp, gilded bronze embellishments to the corners, escutcheons, and feet—adding a luxurious highlight to the richly figured wood. The proportions are balanced and architectural, with a marble top completing the piece and giving it both practicality and grandeur.

A highly decorative and functional piece, ideal for a hallway, study, or drawing room. Opening the fall‑front reveals a beautifully preserved purple velvet writing surface, rich in colour and wonderfully tactile. The velvet adds a luxurious contrast to the marquetry exterior, giving the interior a jewel‑box quality typical of late 19th‑century French cabinetry.

Within the fitted interior sit a series of small drawers, each finished with delicate ormolu handles. The gilt metalwork is finely cast, adding a touch of refinement and sparkle against the darker wood. These drawers provide practical storage for correspondence, stationery, or personal items while showcasing the cabinetmaker’s attention to detail.

Delivery can be arranged nationwide, please contact me for further details.

Physical Dimensions
Height
142cm (55.91")
Width
67cm (26.38")
Depth
39cm (15.35")
Declaration

Arundel Decorative has dated this French Marquetry Secretaire Cabinet to the 1880s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1219569
Description
A beautifully made French marquetry secrétaire cabinet, dating from around 1880, richly decorated and full of late‑19th‑century Parisian elegance. The façade is adorned with intricate floral and scrolling marquetry, executed in contrasting veneers that create depth, warmth, and a refined decorative rhythm across the drawers and fall‑front featuring an ornate locking key.
“
The cabinet is framed with fine ormolu mounts—crisp, gilded bronze embellishments to the corners, escutcheons, and feet—adding a luxurious highlight to the richly figured wood.
Arundel Decorative

The proportions are balanced and architectural, with a marble top completing the piece and giving it both practicality and grandeur.

fig 1. A tall French marquetry secretaire cabinet featuring floral wood inlays, gilt-bronze mounts, four drawers, and a marble top surface.
fig 1. French Marquetry Secrétaire Cabinet with Ormolu

A highly decorative and functional piece, ideal for a hallway, study, or drawing room. Opening the fall‑front reveals a beautifully preserved purple velvet writing surface, rich in colour and wonderfully tactile. The velvet adds a luxurious contrast to the marquetry exterior, giving the interior a jewel‑box quality typical of late 19th‑century French cabinetry.

fig 2. A tall French marquetry secretaire cabinet featuring floral wood inlays, gilt-bronze mounts, four drawers, and a marble top surface.
fig 2. French Marquetry Secrétaire Cabinet with Ormolu

Within the fitted interior sit a series of small drawers, each finished with delicate ormolu handles. The gilt metalwork is finely cast, adding a touch of refinement and sparkle against the darker wood. These drawers provide practical storage for correspondence, stationery, or personal items while showcasing the cabinetmaker’s attention to detail.

Delivery can be arranged nationwide, please contact me for further details.

Height
142cm (55.91")
Width
67cm (26.38")
Depth
39cm (15.35")
Date of Manufacture

Arundel Decorative has dated this French Marquetry Secretaire Cabinet to the 1880s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1219569
Arundel Decorative
Arundel Decorative
Sellingantiques verified Since Jan 2026

Decorative french and period english furniture

Dealer Profile

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

PDF SHARE
SAVE
A tall French marquetry secretaire cabinet featuring floral wood inlays, gilt-bronze mounts, four drawers, and a marble top surface.
1 / 6
Archive I A tall French marquetry secretaire cabinet featuring floral wood inlays, gilt-bronze mounts, four drawers, and a marble top surface.

French Marquetry Secrétaire Cabinet with Ormolu

Archive II A tall French marquetry secretaire cabinet featuring floral wood inlays, gilt-bronze mounts, four drawers, and a marble top surface. View II
Archive III A tall French marquetry secretaire cabinet featuring floral wood inlays, gilt-bronze mounts, four drawers, and a marble top surface. View III
Archive IV A tall French marquetry secretaire cabinet featuring floral wood inlays, gilt-bronze mounts, four drawers, and a marble top surface. View IV
Archive V A tall French marquetry secretaire cabinet featuring floral wood inlays, gilt-bronze mounts, four drawers, and a marble top surface. View V
Archive VI A tall French marquetry secretaire cabinet featuring floral wood inlays, gilt-bronze mounts, four drawers, and a marble top surface. View VI
Enlarged Archival View
Arundel Decorative

Arundel Decorative
Telephone 07967 604264
Location
Merchants Hall
Rear of 18 High Street
Arundel
West Sussex
BN18 9AB
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/arundeldecorative
Verified Since Jan 2026
Items For Sale 35
Items Sold 14
Arundel Decorative
Arundel Decorative
Verified Since Jan 2026
View Dealer Info
Location: Merchants Hall, Rear of 18 High Street, Arundel, West Sussex, BN18 9AB, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/arundeldecorative
Verified
Jan 2026
For Sale
35
Sold
14
A tall French marquetry secretaire cabinet featuring floral wood inlays, gilt-bronze mounts, four drawers, and a marble top surface.
French Marquetry Secrétaire Cabinet with Ormolu
Ref: SA1219569
A tall French marquetry secretaire cabinet featuring floral wood inlays, gilt-bronze mounts, four drawers, and a marble top surface.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Detail View 5
Archival Detail

Strictly Vetted Dealers

Every single antique dealer on our platform is individually approved by our internal team. We verify their professional trade history, ethical standards, and photographic quality to ensure a secure, high-standard buying environment. Upon joining, every dealer agrees to a strict 9-point code of conduct. While issues can occasionally arise, our dealers typically resolve them swiftly and directly with the buyer. In fact, since our founding in 2002, Sellingantiques has only had to step in to help resolve an issue on roughly five occasions—a true testament to the quality of our dealers and their dedication to your happiness.

Secure Transit

Our dealers are highly experienced in packing and shipping fragile, high-value antiques. Because you are in direct contact with the dealer, you will be able to easily go through all available shipping and insurance options together to ensure your item arrives safely.

The Sustainable Choice

Antiques are the ultimate green purchase. By choosing historical pieces over newly manufactured goods, you completely eliminate the carbon footprint of modern mass production while preserving exceptional, timeless craftsmanship.

Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectSecretaire Cabinets
  • Period19th century
  • StyleFrench Louis XV
  • MaterialRosewood, Kingwood, Ormolu, Marble
  • ColourWarm Brown
  • MotifsFloral marquetry, Fall front desk, Ormolu mounts, Marble top
  • SizeH 142 cm (56 in) x W 67 cm (26 in) x D 39 cm (15 in)

This French Louis XV style secretaire cabinet dates from 1880 and features warm brown rosewood and kingwood veneers, an inlaid marble top, and gilded ormolu mounts. The tall exterior displays intricate floral and scrolling marquetry across the top drawer, fall-front desk, and three lower drawers, complemented by cast brass keyhole escutcheons, corner mounts, and scroll feet. Measuring 142 cm high, 67 cm wide, and 39 cm deep, this vertical storage unit fits practically into a study, drawing room, or hallway. Inside, the fall-front lowers to reveal a purple velvet writing surface paired with multiple small drawers fitted with tiny metal pulls for correspondence and stationery. The architectural proportions, balanced vertical lines, and fine wood contrasting create a refined statement suitable for daily writing use or decorative display in a traditional or period interior.

FAQs

A secretaire a abattant is a tall French writing cabinet characterized by a fall-front flap that opens to reveal a writing surface and small interior drawers, positioned above a series of larger drawers.

These cabinets are typically constructed with fine wood veneers such as kingwood, rosewood, and tulipwood for the marquetry, fitted with cast gilt-bronze (ormolu) mounts and topped with a contoured marble slab.

Authentic pieces feature hand-cut dovetail drawer joints, natural oxidisation on the underside and back panels, hand-chased bronze mounts, and fine saw marks on original timber elements.

Position the piece as a focal point against a neutral wall, balanced by modern linear seating and contemporary artwork to contrast the ornate woodwork and gilt detailing.

Keep the wood away from direct sunlight and central heating sources, apply high-grade beeswax periodically, and wipe the marble top using a soft, damp cloth without acidic cleaners.
items
Add keywords to the filter
Price
£100
£250000
Era
Period
Style
Material
Origin
Stock Location
Recently Added
Online Payments
Categories