Small Secretary Desk with Bronze Details and Red Leather — Louis XV Style, France, c. 1880–1900 (5484)

Height 89.5 cm × width 72 cm × depth 40 cm

Small Secretary Desk with Bronze Details and Red Leather — Louis XV Style, France, c. 1880–1900 (5484)

Louis XV style. France. Circa 1880–1900.

This small bonheur-du-jour type secretary desk is a lady’s desk — one commissioned not for display, but for intimacy. The chevron veneer of rosewood and mahogany, the bronze rocaille appliqués on the cabriole legs, the red leather writing surface with gold-tooled ornamentation, and the interior lined with floral print fabric — every element speaks of the same thing: someone desired this item to be more beautiful than necessary.

A Belle Époque snapshot: Colette sat by the window in Burgundy. It was May — the apple trees were in bloom, and their scent drifted through the curtains. On the red surface lay an unsent letter and a small bunch of violets. She had written until midnight, then paused. A patch of floral print on the red leather inside irked her with its beauty. Such a thing should not belong to someone with nothing to write about.

Wood and Veneer. Rosewood and mahogany veneer in a chevron composition — symmetrical, with a warm reddish-brown tone that shifts from wine-red to gold in the play of light. The shape of the lid and body — distinctly rounded, almost like a bonbonnière — is characteristic of ladies’ desks in the Louis XV taste.

Bronze Appliqués. Rococo-style appliqués on the knees of the cabriole legs — acanthus leaf and volute motif with golden oxidation. A keyhole escutcheon with a delicate floral ornament. Bronze sabot feet on all four legs have been preserved.

Interior. Upon opening the lid — red leather with gold-tooled borders on the writing surface. The interior compartments are lined with green floral print fabric — roses and blue flowers on a dark green background. Three small drawers with black wooden handles. Such an interior is the item’s biography — someone commissioned it with care.

Rarity and Significance. A small-sized bonheur-du-jour with its original interior fabric preserved is an extremely rare item. The fabric is usually the first to suffer — and here it is. A width of only 72 cm makes it suitable even for a small space.

Application in Interior Design and Photography. A bedroom corner, a dressing table, a writing spot by the window. It works in both classic and modern interiors as an accent piece. Extremely photogenic — the red leather against the rosewood veneer is a color combination that cannot be ignored.

Gift and Personalization. An excellent gift for a woman — an artist, writer, poet, or anyone who appreciates beautiful things with a history. An item one doesn’t want to leave.

Condition. Veneer in good condition with minor wear on the edges; red leather with patina and signs of use; bronze appliqués with natural oxidation; interior fabric preserved, with minor wear; drawers function. The condition of the item is fully reflected in the photographs.