French Napoleon III Louis XV Revival style ormolu-mounted veneer and exotic marquetry inlaid Roll Top Cylinder Ladies Desk - Secrétaire à Cylindre Bonheur Du Jour
Ref#D-1390 | Description
A resplendent French Napoleon III Louis XV Revival style ormolu-mounted, veneer and exotic marquetry inlaid Roll Top Cylinder Ladies Desk | Bonheur Du Jour Secrétaire à Cylindre;
The baluster shape ormolu three quarter gallery above a concave frieze with asymmetrical guilloche marquetry pattern;
The cylinder top inlaid with marquetry patterns and two foliate ormolu handles, opens to a fitted interior of wide compartment above two compartments flanked by two drawers to each sides with ormolu pulls above a sliding writing panel;
The cylinder superstructure above a scalloped shaped frieze houses three small drawers above a long drawer, all with ormolu pulls and sans traverse leafy marquetry inlays above a central foliate ormolu mount;
The sides ornamented with floral marquetry inlays, the back as well. The delicate splayed cabriole legs ornamented with foliate ormolu sabots.
D-1390
H:120 x W:90 x D:53cm
Napoleon III Louis XV Revival style
The Napoleon III style | The Second Empire Style
The Napoleon III style, also known as the Second Empire style , is a highly eclectic style of architecture and decorative arts, which uses elements of many different historical styles, and also made innovative use of modern materials, such as iron frameworks and glass skylights. It flourished during the reign of Emperor Napoleon III in France (1852–1871) and had an important influence on architecture and decoration in the rest of Europe and North America. Major examples of the style include the Opéra Garnier (1862–1871) in Paris by Charles Garnier, the Bibliothèque nationale de France, the Church of Saint Augustine (1860–1871), and the Philadelphia City Hall (1871–1901). The architectural style was closely connected with Haussmann's renovation of Paris carried out during the Second Empire; the new buildings, such as the Opéra, were intended as the focal points of the new boulevards.
Comfort was the first priority of Second Empire furniture. Chairs were elaborately upholstered with fringes, tassels, and expensive fabrics. Tapestry work on furniture was very much in style. The structure of chairs and sofas was usually entirely hidden by the upholstery or ornamented with copper, shell, or other decorative elements. Novel and exotic new materials, such as bamboo, papier-mâché, and rattan, were used for the first time in European furniture, along with polychrome wood, and wood painted with black lacquer. The upholstered pouffe, or footstool, appeared, along with the angle sofa and unusual chairs for intimate conversations between two persons (Le confident) or three people (Le indiscret). The crapaud (or toad) armchair was low, with a thickly padded back and arms, and a fringe that hid the legs of the chair.
The French Renaissance and the Henry II style were popular influences on chests and cabinets, buffets and credences, which were massive and built like small cathedrals, decorated with columns, frontons, cartouches, mascarons, and carved angels and chimeras. They were usually constructed of walnut or oak, or sometimes of poirier stained to resemble ebony. Another popular influence was the Louis XVI style, or French neoclassicism, which was preferred by the Empress Eugénie. Her rooms at the Tuileries Palace and other Places were decorated in this style.
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