What is a bonheur du jour?

A bonheur du jour is a small, elegant writing desk topped with a tiered cabinet for letters and stationery. Cabinetmakers designed these pieces for intimate sitting rooms during the mid-nineteenth century.

How do Davenport desks function?

Davenport desks provide a sloping, leather-lined writing surface that lifts to reveal storage compartments for papers and ink. A pedestal of functional drawers sits along one side while dummy drawers balance the opposite facade.

Where were these desks used?

Owners placed these compact items in private boudoirs, drawing rooms, and personal bedchambers for daily correspondence. Their finished backs allowed them to stand away from walls in the centre of a room.

How do I identify a kidney shaped desk?

Kidney shaped desks feature a curved, concave front contour that wraps comfortably around the user. This distinct profile appeared frequently in fine walnut and rosewood writing tables from the Victorian period.