What is a bureau plat?

A bureau plat is a freestanding table designed for writing, featuring a finished back so it can sit in the centre of a room. These desks typically include integrated drawers beneath the writing surface. Such pieces served as formal writing desks in nineteenth-century drawing rooms and libraries.

How do I identify a bureau de dame?

A bureau de dame is a smaller lady's desk, often incorporating curved cabriole legs and delicate ormolu mounts. They are scaled for domestic boudoirs rather than grand offices. These compact writing spaces frequently showcase intricate marquetry and fitted interior compartments.

What woods were used?

Cabinetmakers employed exotic hardwoods including kingwood and rosewood for their rich natural grain and deep colour. These timbers provided a stable base for detailed veneer work. Selected panels often received marquetry decoration using contrasting light and dark woods.

Where were these desks made?

These writing pieces originate from nineteenth-century French workshops following Louis XV revival styles. Parisian cabinetmakers led the production of these elaborate revival pieces. Production dates cluster around the eighteen-eighties and eighteen-nineties.