Tulip Secretary Desk with Drop-Front, 1950s

Details

Description

A spectacular "tulip" secretary desk with a richly inlaid drop-front, remarkable for both its proportions and the abundance and finesse … Read more A spectacular "tulip" secretary desk with a richly inlaid drop-front, remarkable for both its proportions and the abundance and finesse of its decoration.

the front displays a beautiful interplay of burr wood and marquetry, combining scrolls, arabesques, floral motifs, and contrasting fillets.

the large drop-front is centered with a substantial, symmetrical, and particularly decorative ornamental composition.

when opened, it reveals a spectacular interior forming a cabinet, composed of numerous drawers of varying sizes, arranged symmetrically around a small central compartment with two doors.

two small columns frame this central section, while a checkerboard pattern enlivens the composition.

the drop-front, when opened, forms a large writing surface in light wood, highlighted by an elegant inlaid border.

the upper section also opens with closed compartments and terminates in a curved pediment, lavishly decorated with inlaid scrolls and surmounted by a small central compartment.

the lower section, with its curved lines, features several storage compartments and terminates in a wide, shaped base, also entirely adorned with marquetry.

a piece of furniture with a striking presence, demonstrating considerable cabinetmaking skill and offering, once opened, a particularly attractive interior.

period: mid-20th century
materials: marquetry of light and dark woods
dimensions: h. 183 × w. 102 × d. 52 cm See less