Bonheur Du Jour Cabinet Convertible To A Napoleon III Desk

BONHEUR DU JOUR CABINET CONVERTIBLE TO A NAPOLEON III DESK,
Made ofblackened wood, curved on both sides, with abundant Boulle marquetry featuring a decorative style known as“à la Berain” throughout, comprising two parts:
Upper section: featuring three doors, two of whichhave beveled mirrors,
with an interior containing two shelves, decorated with afrieze of flowers and foliage in the form of successive scrolls in gilded bronzeand other decorative elements...
Topping off the unit is a large central drawer with a brassdraw-out tray,
Fluted side panels,
All topped by a white marble slab,
Lower section: forming a sloping desk,
Featuring a writing surface covered in red leather embellished with a gold border,
The interior features three drawers on each side, one of which isa secret drawer decorated in the “Reine” style—small yellow flowers on a green background—andin the center, two storage compartments, one of which is sliding.
The whole rests on fluted leg covers with gildedspikes, connected by an X-shaped crossbar topped in the center by abronze bowl.
French work, circa 1870–1880.