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Rouge Marble Jewelery Quality Bronze Secretary Desk by Jules Piret
$44,995
£33,632.52
€38,806.98
CA$62,988.46
A$66,552.93
CHF 35,797.70
MX$796,863.97
NOK 448,503.32
SEK 410,763.94
DKK 289,780.40
About the Item
This was made by Jules Piret, Not Maison Forest but I can't change the field for maker.
This exceptional rouge marble–topped secretary cabinet by Jules Piret is the sort of furniture that doesn’t so much enter a room as take up residence there. It arrives with its hat on straight, its shoes polished, and a quiet confidence that suggests it’s been impressing people longer than any of us have been alive—and sees no reason to stop now. An identical piece is shown in the Victoria
Albert museum.
Let’s begin at the top, because that’s where your eye goes first whether you intend it to or not. The rouge marble top is rich, dark, and handsomely veined, the kind of stone that looks like it was quarried specifically to sit on something important. It rests perfectly on the case below, framed by crisp gilt bronze moldings that catch the light just enough to remind you they’re there. No glare. No flash. Just assurance.
The cabinet itself is veneered in warm, glowing woods, laid with the kind of care that suggests nobody involved was in a hurry. At the center of the fall-front is a large circular gilt bronze medallion, finely modeled with a classical female figure in relief. It’s serene, balanced, and quietly theatrical—like a cameo that wandered off a piece of jewelry and decided it preferred furniture. Additional bronze mounts—scrolling friezes, fluted columns, rosettes, and figural panels—are placed exactly where they belong, which is everywhere your eye would naturally want them.
Below, the piece stands on slender legs joined by an elegant stretcher, giving it lift and grace rather than bulk. It looks substantial without being heavy, formal without being stiff. In other words, it knows its manners.
Now, the name that explains why all of this works so well.
Jules Piret was one of the great Parisian cabinetmakers of the late 19th century, working during a period when furniture was expected to impress people who were very hard to impress. Piret specialized in Louis XVI–style and classical revival furniture, producing pieces of remarkable refinement, particularly known for their superb bronze mounts and architectural balance. His clientele included wealthy collectors and connoisseurs who wanted furniture that reflected taste, education, and a certain quiet authority.
Piret’s work wasn’t about excess for its own sake. It was about proportion, harmony, and craftsmanship so precise it almost disappears—which is exactly why it stands out.
This secretary cabinet is a perfect example. It’s functional, beautiful, and dignified without being fussy. Place it in a library, study, or formal living space and it immediately suggests serious correspondence, important papers, and the occasional moment of contemplation that looks suspiciously like staring at it in admiration.
In short, this Jules Piret secretary cabinet is furniture that doesn’t try to impress you. It assumes it already has—and history suggests it’s probably right.
Measures 49 tall x 27.25 wide x 13.75 deep
- Creator:Maison Forest (Cabinetmaker)
- Dimensions:Height: 49 in (124.46 cm)Width: 27.25 in (69.22 cm)Depth: 13.75 in (34.93 cm)
- Style:Louis XVI (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1890
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Beautiful quality bronze, good antique condition. No major issues to mention.
- Seller Location:Swedesboro, NJ
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2091348437412
Maison Forest
The furniture crafted by esteemed French manufacturer Maison Forest during the late 19th century exceeds every metric of quality. Established in 1883 at 14 rue Pierre Picard in Paris, Maison Forest created exquisite pieces in the Louis XVI, Empire and Napoleon III styles.
Maison Forest was known for its range of cabinets, armchairs and writing desks that were made with meticulous attention to detail and an incorporation of only the finest materials. Its breccia marble-topped commodes, ebony cabinets with stone overlays and mahogany writing desks — which were embellished with leather surfaces and cast gilt-bronze mounts at the ends of their tapered legs — are prized by collectors and added notes of grace to any interior of the era.
Some of the furniture of Maison Forest was inspired by the work of Parisian designers such as Guillaume Benneman, who created furnishings for interiors at royal residences in the manner of Jean-François Oeben and Jean-Henri Riesener, a favorite of Marie Antoinette and whose work was exemplary of the neoclassical style.
Maison Forest moved its facilities at least once to 31 rue Cambaceres and later exhibited its offerings at the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 Chicago.
On 1stDibs, find antique Maison Forest case pieces, seating, tables and more.
About the Seller
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Established in 1972
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- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Swedesboro, NJ
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