A Mid-sized Writing Table With Heraldic-inspired Decoration. Louis XV Period, Mid-18th Century

A mid-Louis XV period writing desk, crafted from carved wood and featuring a wide drawer that slides out from the side.

It rests on four slender, strongly curved legs, adorned at the top with carved foliage motifs and finished with small, stylized deer hooves. A fine carved molding runs along the edge of the legs, emphasizing the slender elegance of their profile.

The crossbars, cut and scroll-carved on all four sides, are fully worked, confirming the piece’s design as a true center table, intended to be viewed from all angles.

The front crossbar features a particularly original design, freely drawing on heraldic motifs. A count’s crown surmounts a large, radiating shell centered on a small five-petaled flower, beneath which hangs a carved lambrequin. The ensemble is accompanied by foliage scrolls.

This decorative theme continues on the other sides. The drawer and side rails are adorned with rocaille panels featuring dotted lozenge-shaped backgrounds, whose shape loosely evokes that of small shields. On the rear rail, two similar motifs are placed side by side and arranged symmetrically.

While these ornaments cannot be linked to any specific coat of arms, their association with the count’s crown lends the piece an interesting heraldic-inspired vocabulary, which fully contributes to the furniture’s originality.

The drawer, constructed in the traditional manner, is fitted with two original iron pull rings positioned on either side of its central motif.

The table is topped with a molded wooden tabletop painted to resemble marble, in light tones streaked with gray veins.

It features a finish in reddish-orange ochre tones, accented with gilding on the carvings and moldings. The piece as a whole displays a beautiful, deep, and nuanced patina, ranging from brown to terracotta. The gilding, naturally muted and worn on the raised areas, contrasts with the darker tones preserved in the recesses and particularly highlights the sculptural modeling.

Good overall condition. Wear, small cracks, and typical restorations due to its age.

Dimensions: H. 74 × W. 82 × D. 63 cm