What is a bureau plat?

A bureau plat is a flat-topped writing table featuring drawers within the frieze. These pieces were built for placement in the middle of a room. They typically lack the upper shelving units found on bonheur du jours and provide an expansive leather-lined writing surface.

How do I identify kingwood?

Kingwood is recognised by its deep chocolate-brown colour marked with vibrant violet and golden streaks. It is a heavy, dense timber that takes a high polish. Cabinetmakers used it primarily as a sliced veneer rather than solid wood, arranging the grain in symmetrical parquetry patterns.

Where were these desks made?

The vast majority of pieces matching this description originated in France during the nineteenth century. Parisian workshops led the production of revival furniture. English makers also produced pieces in the French taste, often utilising imported kingwood veneers and cast ormolu mounts.

What is a bonheur du jour?

A bonheur du jour is a light writing desk equipped with a small cabinet or shelving superstructure on top. The design emerged in eighteenth-century France. Victorian makers revived the form for ladies' boudoirs, frequently incorporating Sevres porcelain plaques and intricate marquetry.