Prior to a longer note about this transitional and rare style, the large scale and exceptional roll top desk conceals six secret drawers behind removable covers (photographed below). The diamond shaped locking mechanisms (keyholes) and the ornamental bronzes are of unusually high quality. Minor maintenance restorations were performed (replacement of veneer flecks and a small missing interior molding). The existing french polish was cleaned and bolstered, and the green leather (excellent condition) appears to have been replaced sometime in the past few decades.

Louis XVIII was King of France from 1814-1824, and furniture from this period (even from 1814-1830s) is more often categorized under the wide umbrella of “restoration period” furniture. The somewhat unusual and specific term “Louis XVIII” evokes transitional furniture from the early restoration (1814-1820), prior to the emergence of the distinct Charles X style of the early 1820s.

In these early years, officially, much empire period furniture was kept for economic reasons, but some of the bronzes were changed. Some makers, such as Bellangé, actually continued working in the empire style, adapting it to be somewhat less austere, more romantic and less warlike. Such post-napoleonic empire style work is sometimes referred to as a second phase of the empire style, even though it falls chronologically under the reign of Louis XVIII.

So a pure Louis XVIII style is hard to discern, but with such a desk the term encompasses the resurgence of the Louis XVI style in these early years of the restoration (with many nobles returning from exile). This exceptional roll top exemplifies this brief post-napoleonic return to Louis XVI (18th century, old regime design) but with proportions and bronzes that bear the more robust influence of the 19th century.

At a glance, one sees a late Louis XVI desk (especially in the open-worked gilded gallery surrounding the marble) which seems to date circa 1800, with feet that announce the empire period, however with bronzes and inner dovetail work that seem a bit later (1815-20). If we call it a restoration period desk, which is true, we think broadly of furniture that is fundamentally empire but tempered by the elegance of the old regime. Here with a “Louis XVIII” piece, we stress the fundamentally late Louis XVI desk, but which has been emboldened by the empire style, and made circa ~1816-18. The unusual shell themed bronzes would be even more to the tune of the Louis XVIII period if they featured cornucopia, a motif associated with this King.

Dimensions: Height: 50.5 Length 56 inches Depth: 30 inches

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