What is a bonheur du jour?

A bonheur du jour is a small, light writing desk featuring a raised cabinet or shelf structure on top. It emerged in France during the eighteenth century and remained popular through Victorian revival periods. These pieces were intended for a lady's private parlour or bedroom for writing letters and reading. The upper section typically holds small drawers, pigeonholes, or a central cupboard.

How do I identify a bureau de dame?

A bureau de dame is a feminine writing desk characterised by a sloping fall-front or a cylinder top. When opened, it reveals a writing surface and small interior compartments. Many examples date from the nineteenth century and incorporate decorative veneers like kingwood or walnut. They often feature ormolu mounts and delicate cabriole legs.

What woods were used on these desks?

Cabinetmakers employed exotic hardwoods including kingwood, rosewood, walnut, amboyna, and tulipwood. These timbers were selected for their rich grain patterns and natural colour variations. Veneers were frequently arranged in intricate marquetry or parquetry patterns across the writing surface and drawer fronts. Satinwood and mahogany also appear in specific regional or period pieces.

Where were these desks used?

These desks were designed for domestic private spaces such as boudoirs, drawing rooms, and personal libraries. Their compact proportions allowed them to fit into residential rooms without dominating the floor space. Unlike large partners desks intended for offices, these were personal items for correspondence, keeping journals, and storing intimate papers.

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French Ladies Desk

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When you search for a french ladies desk, you enter a world of elegant diminutive writing furniture designed for private correspondence in the nineteenth century.