A magnificent pair of French early 19th century Louis XVI st. Bonheurs du Jours, which literally means, joy of the day. A type of writing desk introduced in Paris by renowned interior decorators and purveyors of style - Marchands... — Read More

A magnificent pair of French early 19th century Louis XVI st. Bonheurs du Jours, which literally means, joy of the day. A type of writing desk introduced in Paris by renowned interior decorators and purveyors of style - Marchands Merciers, around 1760, and became intensely fashionable and in this case extremely rare to have a matching pair. Each stunning mahogany desk is raised on tapered legs with ormolu sabots, top caps and fitted chandelles. At the apron is a central drawer with ormolu mount and pull, flanked by a stack of two drawers. All with a satinwood façades within mahogany borders, beaded ormolu trim and fruitwood inlay of horns joined by foliate garlands. The drawers have a unique button release trigger underneath the desk. Above is a slim gilt tooled leather fitted pull out with ormolu pulls. The beautiful satinwood top has a mahogany border within an ormolu gallery. Above is an impressive central door that opens to reveal a shelf with a drawer below decorated with an ormolu foliate mount and pull. The doors have mirrored central inlays of a violin, sheet music and other musical instruments tied together with a bow amidst a foliate circular garland. Flanked by fluted columns with a rosette block at the bottom and foliate groupings above. At each side are two lovely tiers with pierced ormolu galleries, fitted with white Carrara marble and satinwood backs within mahogany borders. All below the fitted white Carrara marble top within an ormolu border and 3/4 pierced ormolu gallery. The back is beautifully finished with faux designed drawers, ormolu borders, pulls and mounts. All rich and warm patina throughout. — Read Less