Early 19th Century French parquetry lady's writing desk, signed Millet a Paris
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193
A French late 19th century ormolu-mounted satiné, oeil de vermeil and kingwood parquetry writing desk en rognon
by Millet, Paris
surmounted by a reclining Mars infant on a lion pelmet, holding a sword and the ribbon tied enamel dial, above five small drawers and a pigeon hole, each curved side with a scrolling acanthus issuing two-lights candelabra en girandoles centred by a reclining cherub, the gilt tooled brown leather writing surface above three frieze drawers flanked to the sides by a scrolling acanthus clasp surmounted by a head, the curved sides and back centred by a pierced acanthus and foliate mount, on cabriole legs and foliate cast sabots, signed MILLET A PARIS, 116cm wide, 70cm deep, 140cm high (45.5" wide, 27.5" deep, 55" high).
Sold for £49,250 inc. premium

Footnotes

  • A very similar version of this bureau, by Millet, is illustrated in C. Mestdagh, p.212. The same sold Christie's New York, 24 October 2006, lot 474, for $ 66,000.

    The present lot is an even more creative example than the version mentioned above as each candelabra is surmounted by a cherub and the legs to the front are headed by figural busts.

    The bronze mounts such as the side cherubs and the Mars infant surmounting the clock are reminiscent of the work by Léon Messagé and they could have been cast after his designs. Indeed, evidences have been found that he has not exclusively worked for François Linke but also for Krieger, Zwiener, Roux et Brunet and then possibly Millet.
    In that respect, this piece can be considered as one of the most interesting in maison Millet's production.
    As mentioned by Mestdagh, Théodore Millet exhibited a very similar bureau en rognon at the 1905 Paris Salon des industries du Mobilier.

    Literature:
    -Camille Mestdagh, L'ameublement d'art français (1850-1900), avec la collaboration de Pierre Lecoules, Les éditions de l'amateur, 2010.

Category: Furniture / European Furniture and Works of Art

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