19th Century Country French Louis XVI Painted Secretaire

Price: $2,980

19th Century Country French Louis XVI Painted Secretaire is a marvelous example of rural artisans in the provinces emulating the styles in current favor of the court.  In the instance of King Louis XVI, the neoclassical style was revived in all its glory, recalling the masters of ancient Greek and Roman architecture and style.  The slant front secretaire is a clever contrivance, providing all the necessary space and storage for a small home office or student's desk, all on a footprint that mimics that of a chest of drawers.  This design indeed has two full width drawers, but the slant front drops down with internal folding supports to reveal not only a writing surface, but two pairs of drawers and four cubby holes.  Carved visual enhancement includes timeless urns with foliate sprays, laurel wreaths and tassels.  Cast brass key guards add punctuation.  The entire casework including the tapered legs and egg & dart molding trim exhibit what appears to be the original if not an early painted finish which has achieved a lovely patina with a hint of charming distressing over the many decades of serving its family.
Circa 1850s
Measures 37.5H x 38.5W x 19D; desk surface 27H
Available for pickup in the Dallas Design District, Dallas, Texas