French Kingwood Desk
When you search for a french kingwood desk, you enter a world of finely figured veneers and gilt mounts designed for elegant writing.
French Kingwood Desk
A french kingwood desk encompasses various forms designed for correspondence and study, appearing most frequently as nineteenth-century bureau plats, writing tables, and bonheur du jour cabinets.
The selection ranges from mid-nineteenth-century revival pieces to eighteenth-century originals, often displaying Louis XV or Louis XVI style characteristics.
Makers and workshops of the period produced freestanding tables and writing cabinets incorporating parquetry, marquetry, and compartments for daily use.
What varies in quality
The distinction between tiers rests upon the precision of the veneer matching, the crispness of the chased ormolu mounts, and the renown of the workshop.
Heavier bronze casting, superior marquetry detail, and original marble tops or porcelain inserts elevate certain examples above standard production pieces.
Listings feature numerous bureau plats and bonheur du jour cabinets utilising kingwood, rosewood, and ormolu mounts.
Francois Linke·Paul Sormani·Edwards and Roberts·CH Jeanselme and Co·Durand·Millet·Blake
The French Kingwood Desk Glossary
- Bureau plat
- A freestanding writing table featuring drawers across the frieze, typically finished on all sides for placement in the centre of a room.
- Bonheur du jour
- A small, light ladies writing desk featuring a small cabinet or tiered shelving superstructure above the main writing surface.
- Ormolu
- Gilt bronze mounts applied to furniture edges and legs, cast and chased to accentuate the decorative scheme.
- Parquetry
- Geometric wood veneer arrangements utilising contrasting grain patterns to create checkerboard or cube designs.
- Vernis Martin
- A simulated Japanese lacquer technique developed in France, often seen on panels incorporated into writing cabinets.
French Kingwood Desk: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a bureau plat?
A bureau plat is a flat-topped writing table designed to stand away from the wall with finished surfaces on every side.
These tables typically feature frieze drawers and patinated leather writing inserts bordered by gilt bronze mounts.
How do I identify Louis XV style?
Louis XV style pieces are defined by asymmetrical curves, serpentine outlines, and floral marquetry.
Ormolu mounts on these desks follow the organic contours of the wood rather than strict geometric symmetry.
Are these desks suitable for daily use?
These desks accommodate modern writing tasks and laptop placement while maintaining historical character in a room.
Care should be taken to protect the polished kingwood surfaces and leather writing inserts from moisture and excessive heat.
What is a bonheur du jour?
A bonheur du jour is a compact ladies writing desk incorporating a small upper cabinet with doors or pigeonholes.
These pieces frequently combine kingwood veneers with porcelain plaques and delicate ormolu mounts.