A Rare Secretary Desk Adorned With Chinese Lacquer Panels And Stamped "delorme"

A rare secretary desk inlaid and adorned with gold-colored Chinese lacquer panels on a black background, featuring landscapes and architectural motifs framed by gilded bronze borders. The secretary desk rests on four tall, curved legs and opens with two doors, revealing five drawers, one of which serves as a writing surface and is fitted inside with six small drawers and a small compartment. 
The piece is topped by a molded marble slab that runs around the perimeter of the cabinet.
Stamped Delorme
Sold by Jansen (stamp)
Normal restoration; the marble is likely a later addition
H. 117 x W. 80.5 x D. 47 cm

This charming little cabinet-style secretary bears the Delorme maker’s mark. While Louis XV–Transition period furniture is generally attributed to the cabinetmaker Adrien Delorme (who became a master craftsman in 1748), his work was also sometimes confused with that of his father, François Delorme, who was active until 1768. However, numerous lacquer panels were found in the latter’s workshop after his death. This rare fact is worth noting because, at the time, cabinetmakers usually obtained their lacquer from a haberdasher. It appears that the Delorme family had its own supply of lacquer; records mention one large and three small cabinets made of Chinese lacquer, as well as Chinese and Japanese chests, all of which were intended to be dismantled so that their panels could be used in Delorme’s creations.

Although the unusual shape of our secretary desk seems to indicate a specific commission for a private client, a “cabinet-style” secretary desk had been found in the workshops of François Delorme, with whom Adrien worked, suggesting that the practice of making secretary desks with hinged doors was not unfamiliar to Adrien Delorme.

Furthermore, the delicate curling pattern that runs along the lacquered cartouches and adorns the sides evokes the talent of Adrien Delorme, whose dexterity was often demonstrated through this type of marquetry. The reputation of this talented cabinetmaker is well established, and his work is now featured in the world’s finest collections: the Louvre, the Getty Museum in California, the Calouste Gubenlkian Museum in Lisbon, and Waddesdon Manor in London.