19th Century Antique French Regency Inlaid Rosewood Bronze Mounted Ladies Tiered Writing Desk (Bonheur Du Jour)

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This is an elegant French ladies tiered writing desk, known as a bonheur du jour. The desk is unsigned but … Read more This is an elegant French ladies tiered writing desk, known as a bonheur du jour. The desk is unsigned but was likely made in France in the 1800s.

A bonheur du jour (meaning “happiness of the day” or “daytime delight” in French) is a type of ladies writing desk. It was introduced in Paris about 1760 and became intensely fashionable. The bonheur du jour is distinguished by a raised back with open shelves, folding writing surface, and light and graceful design, as the desk was often moved about the room. Bonheurs du jour were often inlaid with marquetry, banded with exotic woods, or mounted with gilt-bronze ormolu.

This fine example of a bonheur du jour showcases finely figured rosewood veneer with decorative boxwood stringing, several yards of ornate bronze trim, and beautifully executed marquetry depicting classical motifs such as floral swags, acanthus leaves, and urns. The desk is headed by a shaped pediment mounted with a bronze bow and ribbon. Under the pediment is a single shelf supported with bronze columns above two small handmade dovetail jointed drawers with bronze knobs. The desk top unfolds on bronze hinges to reveal a writing desk lined in newer crimson velvet. A single wide dovetail jointed drawer sits below the desk top for additional storage. The whole structure rests on four straight tapered and fluted legs that were faux grain painted to look like rosewood, topped with bronze rings on the knees, and end in toupee feet. An X stretcher unites the legs and is topped a central bronze footed urn with Greek key style handles.

The 19th century desk is in very good antique condition. The desk is beautiful to look at and functions perfectly. Bronze mounts are polished and gleaming. Wood surfaces waxed. All bronze mounts and inlays are intact, with scattered minor losses of the rosewood veneer on corners and edges. Water ring on the upper shelf, scratches on horizontal surfaces, evidence of repairs on the stretcher and the legs, sun fading on one side. Newer velvet on the writing surface is not original. Missing original skeleton key and escutcheon on lower drawer. Please see photos for more details about the condition of the desk.

The desk measures 51” tall, 27.5” wide, and 17.75” deep. When the writing desk is unfolded, the extended top increases the depth of the desk to 26” with a 29.5” table height and 28.5” knee clearance. Desk can be separated into 2 pieces for transport. The top measures 21.25” tall, 25.5” wide, and 9” deep. The bottom measures 30.75” tall, 27.5” wide, and 17.75” deep. See less