Flat Blackened Wood and Bronze Desk, Style Napoléon III, Maison Gouffé

This sumptuous desk, from the very beginning of the 20th century, has been meticulously crafted and reveals an absolutely remarkable marquetry work in wood and brass.

The ornaments are in finely chiseled and gilded bronze. An ingot mold sublimates its tray sheathed in tobacco leather which reveals a jewel museum in its center printed with gold leaf, as well as on each of its angles.

These are themselves enhanced by two stripes with arabesque motifs, also printed with gold leaf.

Under the tray, there is a belt made up of four bands, two long and two short which follow the design of the line of the tray and contain drawers three in number, two side and one central.

The drop handles and keyhole are also in bronze.

Four caryatids in the shape of a woman’s bust dress the top of each foot, which are arched and ended with clogs in the shape of crow’s feet.

Signature, with a plaque from the Gouffé house affixed in a drawer.
Measures: H: 78 x L: 149 x W: 78 cm

The flat desk is the name given to the large rectangular desk with a belt with drawers. It is a typical representative office.
In general, it is a cabinetmaking piece of furniture, that is to say executed by master cabinetmakers or workshops authorized by royal privileges to work with wood in veneer or marquetry.

Rarely is it executed in solid wood by carpenters. This piece of furniture originally designed for men reached its peak in the Louis XV period and began to be manufactured for female customers, it then became the small boudoir writing table.

Flat desks in blackened wood with beautiful gilded bronzes remain very popular and give character to workplaces.