Bronze Mounted Bureau Plat
A bronze mounted bureau plat is a grand writing table finished with gilt bronze mounts, prized for bringing French style to a grand room.
Bronze Mounted Bureau Plat
A bronze mounted bureau plat is a freestanding writing table designed to sit away from the wall in the centre of a room, serving as both a desk and a display of craftsmanship. The pieces found on this page span the 18th century to the early 20th century, with the 19th century dominating the selection.
Most examples lean heavily into the Louis XV and Louis XVI revivals, displaying serpentine or kidney-shaped outlines rooted in French Rococo and neoclassical traditions. Alongside standard writing desks, the selection includes centre tables and writing tables finished with decorative veneers.
Makers working in this tradition took inspiration from earlier royal furniture, adapting the classic writing table format for sophisticated Victorian and Edwardian interiors. These tables combine a broad writing surface with ornamental metalwork, making them central to the decoration of a study or salon.
How They Were Made
The foundation of a bronze mounted bureau plat relies on dense hardwoods such as kingwood, rosewood, mahogany, walnut, and tulipwood, often laid as intricate marquetry or parquetry veneers over a robust carcase. Ebonised finishes and red lacquer also appear among the selections.
Master cabinetmakers cast and chased ormolu or gilt bronze mounts to accent the structural lines, corners, and aprons of each table. Leather inserts traditionally form the writing surface, framed by decorative brass and bronze detailing.
The listings span the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, with 19th-century interpretations dominating the selection of bronze mounted bureau plat tables.
What Varies in Quality
The distinction between ordinary and exceptional examples lies in the crispness of the gilt bronze chasing and the complexity of the timber veneers. Finer tables exhibit deeply chiselled mounts with sharp detail and seamless marquetry patterns across curved surfaces.
Signatures or stamps from renowned workshops elevate a piece, reflecting the meticulous standards applied to cabinetmaking and bronze work. The weight and integration of the mounts into the wooden frame reveal the maker's commitment to balance and proportion.
Francois Linke·Edwards and Roberts·CH. Jeanselme and Co·Durand·Fournier·Paul Sormani
The Bronze Mounted Bureau Plat Glossary
- Bureau plat
- A freestanding writing table, typically fitted with drawers in the frieze. It forms the core of the selection on this page.
- Ormolu
- Gilded bronze applied to furniture as decorative mounts. It requires careful casting and hand-chasing to achieve crisp definition.
- Marquetry
- The art of applying pieces of veneer to a structure to form decorative patterns. Makers utilised varied timbers to create floral or geometric designs.
- Kingwood
- A dense, richly grained timber imported from South America and frequently used in French cabinetmaking. Its dark hues provide a striking contrast to ormolu mounts.
- Parquetry
- A geometric mosaic of wood pieces used for accenting tabletops and drawer fronts. It demonstrates the precision of the joiner.
Bronze Mounted Bureau Plat: Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I place a bureau plat?
A bronze mounted bureau plat is designed to be viewed from all sides, making it ideal as a freestanding centrepiece in a study or drawing room.
Position it away from walls to showcase the marquetry and gilt bronze mounts on the back and sides.
How do I care for the leather top?
The leather writing surface benefits from gentle cleaning with a slightly damp cloth and occasional treatment with appropriate leather dressings.
Avoid placing damp items or direct heat sources on the leather to prevent cracking and staining.
How do I distinguish Louis XV from Louis XVI style?
Louis XV style tables display asymmetric curves, serpentine outlines, and exuberant rococo scrollwork in the bronze mounts.
Louis XVI style pieces favour symmetry, straight tapered legs, and neoclassical motifs like fluting and acanthus leaves.
Can I use this as a daily writing desk?
These tables served as functional desks for correspondence and writing in their original contexts, offering ample surface area.
Today, they continue to function well for writing, provided you protect the leather insert from heavy wear.
What is the difference between ormolu and gilt bronze?
Ormolu and gilt bronze refer to the same material: cast bronze treated with a gold amalgam or gilding process.
In period descriptions, the terms are often used interchangeably to denote the golden metallic mounts adorning the timber frame.