Mayfair Gallery Desks and Writing Tables

Antique French ormolu mounted roll top desk in the style of Riesener French, 19th Century Height 120cm, width 146cm, depth 73cm This magnificent 19th-century bureau à cylindre, als...

Antique French marquetry, ormolu and jasperware Bureau du Roi by Beurdeley French, c. 1890 Height 151cm, width 190cm, depth 100cm The Bureau du Roi, also known as the secrétaire à cylindre, is among the most celebrated masterpieces of 18th century furniture design—an unparalleled example of French craftsmanship and regal opulence. Originally commissioned by King Louis XV in 1760, the project was entrusted to ébéniste du roi Jean-François Oeben (1721–1763). However, Oeben passed away before its completion and his successor, Jean-Henri Riesener (1734-1806), finalised the desk in 1769. During the 19th century, several master cabinetmakers sought to replicate this extraordinary creation, including the esteemed Emmanuel Alfred Beurdeley (1847–1919). The present example, produced circa 1890, was exhibited at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, where it garnered admiration for its exceptional artistry. Following the exhibition, it was acquired by financier George Jay Gould I (1864–1923) and later photographed in the Lakewood, New Jersey residence of his wife, actress Edith Kingdon Gould (1864–1921). This magnificent desk is crowned with a decorative clock, draped in festoons and accompanied by two playful putti and a finely sculpted dog. Twin ormolu urns rest atop an openwork gallery, leading to additional flower-filled ormolu vases. Flanking the central roll-top panel are finely cast ormolu figures of Apollo and Calliope, each supporting a twin-light scrolling acanthus candelabrum. With a turn of a key, the roll-top slides open to reveal an exquisite arrangement of three pull-out shelves and three drawers, each front panel adorned with delicate ormolu banding and intricate floral trellis parquetry. A gilt-tooled leather writing surface unfolds, featuring a pop-up central panel that lifts to reveal a folding folio stand alongside three additional storage compartments. Below, a central kneehole drawer, embellished with an ormolu bow, is flanked by twin-divided drawers, all decorated with finely detailed floral marquetry. Every aspect of this Bureau du Roi is a testament to superior craftsmanship, featuring elaborate marquetry and parquetry designs. The upper section consists of three panels, with the tambour roll-top inlaid with intricate mythological motifs. Two side medallions bear Latin inscriptions drawn from Cesare Ripa’s Iconologia (1555–1622): NON. NISI. GRANDIA. CANTO. / IRRIDENS. CUSPIDE. FIGO. and BREVI. COMPLECTOR. SINGULA. CANO / PASTORUM. CARMINA. LUDO. These decorative elements, along with the marquetry on the roll-top and upper surfaces, celebrate the arts, literature, and architecture. The bombé sides of the desk are richly decorated with marquetry panels depicting symbols of both naval and terrestrial warfare, framed by elegant ormolu laurel swags. These ornamental details complement a series of exquisite blue and white Wedgwood Jasperware medallions...

Early 20th century French Empire style roll-top desk French, Early 20th Century Height 113cm, width 84cm, depth 62cm This charming roll-top desk is crafted from ormolu mounted hardw...

19th century French Louis XV style ormolu mounted writing desk French, Late 19th Century Height 100cm, width 121cm, depth 66cm Crafted in the late 19th century, this writing desk i...

Antique Louis XVI style mahogany and ormolu bonheur du jour by Winckelsen French, 1864 Height 105cm, width 73cm, depth 42cm Charles-Guillaume Winckelsen (French, 1812-1871) is the c...

Antique French Louis XV style ormolu mounted marquetry desk by Maison Léger French, c. 1880 Height 80cm, width 185cm, depth 98cm This very impressive desk was crafted around 1880 by...

'Ripple' black walnut desk by Tom Vaughan British, 21st Century Height 70.5cm, width 179cm, depth 81.5cm This intriguing contemporary desk was expertly designed and made by the Bri...

Antique writing table by Beurdeley after a model by Adam Weisweiler French, c. 1880 Height 74cm, width 83cm, depth 46cm Crafted by the prestigious 19th century furniture makers Beu...

Antique French gilt bronze and mahogany bonheur du jour French, Late 19th Century Height 117cm, width 78cm, depth 54cm Made in France in the late 19th century, this elegant bonheu...

Antique parquetry, ormolu and leather bureau plat by Ross English, 19th Century Height 76cm, width 120cm, depth 69cm Made by the renowned English furniture maker Donald Ross, this desk is a demonstration of some of his finest work. The desk is decorated with the iconic dotted parquetry trellis, and the centre is inset with a brown leather panel. Gold, debossed detailing adorns the border of the leather panel, its soft texture providing a smooth surface on which to write. An ormolu border frames the desk table top, the four edges mounted with motifs of male bearded masks among acanthus leaves. Below are two lockable drawers, each one decorated in a similar manner to the desk table top. The pair of storage compartments are separated by a central ormolu mount cast in the form of flowing acanthus leaves and foliage garlands. Four tapering legs support the desk, each one terminating in socket castors marked ‘JC’. Ross’ masterpiece is also labelled with a brass label ‘KG 8913’. In the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London is a bedside table by Donald Ross of a very similar design to the desk in Mayfair Gallery...

Very fine ormolu, porcelain and marquetry writing desk by Henry Dasson French, 1890 Height 74cm, depth 80cm, depth 50cm By Dasson, Henry (French, 1825-1896), a leading ébéniste of the French Belle Époque, this beautiful, delicate, and diminutive writing desk...

Porcelain and ormolu mounted bonheur du jour by Donald Ross. English, late 19th century. Measures: height 136cm, width 108cm, depth 62cm This beautifu...

Louis XVI style mahogany, satinwood, ebony and ormolu writing desk by Donald Ross English, Late 19th Century Height 73cm, width 108cm, depth 64cm This excellent piece, a table à écrire, or writing desk, was made by Donald Ross, an important English maker active in the late nineteenth century, in the manner of Jean-Henri Riesener, the renowned, highly acclaimed and towering ébéniste of the Louis XVI period in France. It features a rectangular top surface mounted with a gilt-bronze edge, in which is set a finely tooled gilt leather surface. This, like the frieze drawers around the sides, is set within a lattice veneer parquetry border. The table is divided by a central ormolu appliqué...

French gilt bronze and marquetry writing desk after Cressent. French, late 19th century Measures: height 79cm, width 134cm, depth 76cm This very fine desk was retailed by the celebrated English retailers Edwards & Roberts and was designed and crafted in France in the manner of Charles Cressent, who worked during the early eighteenth century in the Régence style. The desk is crafted from rich dark wood finished with chequerboard marquetry and fixed with gilt bronze mounts. The desk features a flat tabletop bordered in gilt bronze, which is raised above an apron and four cabriole legs. The apron features three drawers to the front, each affixed with gilt bronze mounts in a foliate style and modelled as theatrical masks, while the sides of the apron are affixed with gilt bronze grotesques...

Unusual Transition style marquetry and gilt bronze double sided writing desk French, early 20th Century Height 98cm, width 130cm, depth 94c...

Neoclassical style mahogany card, dressing, and writing table French, 19th century Measures: Height 75cm, width 70cm, depth 45cm This charming table is an ingenious piece of des...

French 19th century mahogany travel writing desk French, 19th century Measures: Height 94cm, width 53cm, depth 18cm This fine and delicate des...

Antique English Victorian marquetry writing desk by Donald Ross English, c. 1890 Measures: Height 75cm, width 108cm, depth 64cm This superb mahogany writing desk by Donald Ross ...

Antique English gilt bronze and marquetry desk by Donald Ross English, c. 1890 Measures: Height 75cm, width 108cm, depth 63cm This elegant mahogany writing desk by Donald Ross f...

Rococo style writing desk mounted with gilt bronze French, late 19th century Measures: Height 78cm, width 134cm, depth 64cm This superb ...

Antique Mid-19th century ebonised wood, gilt bronze and Pietra Dura desk, French, c. 1860s Dimensions: Height 77cm, width 134cm, depth 78cm This ...

Antique English wooden desk with reading stand Beautifully carved from wood, this Victorian English reading desk is supported by two legs wit...

Louis XV style gilt bronze mounted writing desk by Poteau French, late 19th century Size: Height 78cm, width 180cm, depth 87cm This beautiful Louis XV style writing desk is rais...

This elegant writing desk was created in France in the late 18th century, during the reign of King Louis XVI (1774-1792). The desk is designed in a refined neoclassical style which w...

This beautiful side table was designed in France in the 19th century in the fashionable Rococo, or Louis XV, style. The piece has been crafted from kingwood and decorated with painte...

The beautiful neoclassical style designs of Jean-Henri Riesener (1735-1806), perhaps the most celebrated cabinetmaker of all time, are the inspiration for this wonderful antique side...

Of classical rectangular form, the four cabriole legs capped by ormolu female masks, with a further two masks to the sides, with three drawers and a leather writing surface

This beautiful desk, beautifully finished in kingwood, leather and gilt bronze, is a fantastic piece of 19th century French design in the Louis XV style. Elegant, beautifully crafted...

After the model by Jean-Henri Riesener (French, 1734-1806). Of the Napoleon III period, in the Louis XVI style, with fruitwood and ebony inlaid in bois de citronnier, mahogany and amaranth, with a three-quarter galleried rectangular top above a roll-top, opening to reveal a leather-lined writing slide with four short drawers and five pigeon holes, the frieze centred by a push button drawer...