Drop-front secretaire (secrétaire à abattant)

Jean-François Dubut

ca. 1760 · Veneered on oak, in front with panels of black and gold lacquer, partly Chinese and partly European, and on the sides with floral marquetry in tulipwood, rosewood, satinwood, purplewood, and various other end-cut woods; mounts of gilded and chased bronze; top of breche d'Aleps marble · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Once the fall front of this secretary, partly decorated with Chinese lacquer, is opened a series of drawers with geometric marquetry is revealed. The overall size indicates that this piece was intended for use in one of the more intimate and private rooms where the owner could write undisturbed. The model of this secretary remained very popular and was repeated a number of times during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Most of the mounts of this piece have been replaced

Artist

Jean-François Dubut

Date

ca. 1760

Medium

Veneered on oak, in front with panels of black and gold lacquer, partly Chinese and partly European, and on the sides with floral marquetry in tulipwood, rosewood, satinwood, purplewood, and various other end-cut woods; mounts of gilded and chased bronze; top of breche d'Aleps marble

Culture

French

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Bequest of Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, 2019