A French 19th century Louis XVI st. Belle Époque period rosewood, satinwood, tulipwood, ormolu and white Carrara marble “Bonheur du Jour” desk, signed by Roux et Cie.

List: $54,500.00

A stunning and extremely high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. Belle Époque period rosewood, satinwood, tulipwood, ormolu and white Carrara marble "Bonheur du Jour" desk, signed by Roux et Cie. The drop front desk is raised by most elegant square tapered legs with striking foliate topie shaped ormolu sabots. Each leg displays beautiful tulipwood inlaid panels framed within a lovely rosewood band which continues along with the most decoratively shaped stretcher with a beaded ormolu band and an impressive central urn of prosperity with the eternal flame. Above each leg are pierced richly chased foliate mounts below an exceptional turned mottled support. The apron displays one central drawer with an intricately detailed tied berried laurel branch ormolu mount and keyhole escutcheon set on an elegant wood background and framed within a fine Coeur de Rai band. The drawer is set above a finely detailed ormolu band with charming blooming tulips and below a stunning and most charming vine like ormolu band. At the center is the drop down front decorated with a superb exotic wood marquetry design of a wonderfully executed basket with an abundance of fruit and flowers and a charming tied ribbon framed within an elegant reeded foliate ormolu band with pierced floral corner mounts. The front opens to reveal a fitted gold tooled burgundy colored leather writing surface framed within an elegant burl walnut border and retaining its original lock with lovely etched lattice and floral designs and "Roux Cie 3 et 5 Rue Harlay" inscribed at the center. Also revealed are the most decorated inside storage compartments with superb burl wood backgrounds and four striking baluster shaped columns. The term "bonheur du jour" directly translates to "happiness of the day" and became popular to describe a smaller desk, particularly one with compartments.

Provenance: From the prestigious collection of Hubert T Parson, president of F.W. Woolworth Company and former owner of the land-marked Shadow Lawn estate in West Long Branch, NJ.

In 1918, the estate was purchased by Hubert T. Parson. The main house was destroyed by fire in 1927, and Parson and his wife Maysie immediately embarked on building an ostentatious replacement. Sparing no expense, they retained the noted Gilded Age architect Horace Trumbauer, and the design of the present building is credited to Trumbauer and his assistant, Julian Abele. The exterior garden landscape was designed by the French landscape architect Achille Duchêne. By the time the building was complete the Parsons had spent more than $10 million. Shadow Lawn was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 for its significance in art, architecture, and landscape architecture and then declared a National Historic Landmark in 1985 — Read Less

Item # 11974
H: 50.75 in L: 43.25 in D: 14.25 in
H: 129 cm L: 110 cm D: 36 cm
France
19th Century
Marble/Stone, Ormolu, Rosewood, Satinwood, Tulipwood
Belle Époque Period Read More, Louis XVI st. Read More

(Belle Époque Period) - Gaining its name from the optimistic and peaceful period of time between 1871 and World War I, Belle Epoque means “beautiful period”, and occurred during the era of the Third French Republic. This period of economic, colonial, and scientific prosperity brought with it a flourishing artistic climate with numerous literal, musical, theatrical, and visual masterpieces being created. The Eiffel Tower, which was constructed between 1887 and 1889, served as the entrance to the World’s Fair held in Paris. That same year, the Moulin Rouge cabaret in Paris was founded and showcased the now more mainstream styles of performance including can-can dancing. Belle Epoque dancers and singers were Paris celebrities and became immortalized by the poster arts of Toulouse-Lautrec. Leading up to this period in 1865, the American Civil War was coming to a close, with France proposing to construct the Statue of Liberty as a joint effort with the United States. France would be responsible for the statue, with America constructing the pedestal. Created to celebrate the nation’s success in building a viable democracy, the statue would stand as a symbol of friendship between the French and American people.

(Louis XVI st.) - Also known as Louis Seize, Louis XVI's style is a style of architecture, furniture, decoration, and art created during Louis XVI’s 19-year reign in France, just before the French Revolution. Thought to be a reaction and juxtaposition to the prior more elaborate styles, Louis XVI style developed at the end of the Baroque Period and continued until the birth of French Neoclassicism. King Louis XVI showed little enthusiasm for the old world styles of the Baroque Period and he sought out a create a new “beau ideal” that focused on the purity and grandeur of Ancient Romans and Greeks. Inspired by Ancient Roman architecture and art, distinct features of the Louis XVI style are linear lines, small repeated motifs, floral medallions hanging from ribbons, acanthus leaves, urns, dolphins, ram, and lion heads, and griffins. Greco-Roman elements, often used in earlier and later French styles, were also quick common and included fluted and twisted columns, Caryathids, and corbels.

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