Important Mahogany Writing Desk And Bookcase From Bordeaux – Louis XV Period, 18th Century

Important two-part Bordeaux bureau bookcase in solid mahogany, Louis XV period, mid-18th century.

A rare and finely executed piece, representative of the great bureau bookcases made in Bordeaux during the 18th century, at a time when the city was one of France’s leading ports for the importation of exotic woods.

Constructed in solid mahogany throughout the visible parts, with secondary woods used for the backboards and structural elements, this imposing piece is distinguished by the scale of its proportions, the quality of its curves and the unusually rich treatment of its upper section.

The lower section features a strongly shaped front opening with four drawers arranged over three tiers, the two upper drawers separated by a central upright. The drawer fronts are framed with mouldings and retain a substantial set of old bronze mounts, including drop handles, escutcheons and decorative fittings.

The sides are equally carefully treated, with shaped profiles and moulded panels, extending down into curved uprights terminating in scroll feet.

The lower apron is deeply shaped and carved with rococo foliage and shell motifs, contributing to the overall balance and movement of the façade.

The central section forms a fall-front writing desk. The fall front, made from a beautifully figured panel of mahogany, opens to reveal a particularly complete fitted interior.

The interior arrangement is composed of numerous pigeonholes and small drawers disposed symmetrically around a central compartment closed by a small moulded and curved door. The lateral drawers are themselves slightly shaped, reflecting the care taken in the construction of even the interior fittings.

The fall front forms the writing surface and retains its old black leather inset. It is supported by its wrought-iron stays, whose friction has left the normal traces of use associated with several centuries of service.

The upper section, forming the bookcase, is one of the most remarkable features of the piece.

It opens with two large glazed doors, each divided by a richly carved shaped rail. The frames are decorated with an elaborate rococo vocabulary of scrolling foliage, shells and acanthus motifs, particularly developed in the upper and central sections.

The doors are set between rounded and moulded uprights and surmounted by an imposing serpentine cornice in the form of a chapeau de gendarme, strongly moulded and perfectly complementing the movement of the whole.

The sides of the bookcase are finished with large moulded panels, further illustrating the quality of execution of a piece designed to be appreciated not only from the front but also in three-quarter view.

The interior of the bookcase retains its shelves and old backboards.

The combination of a strongly shaped bureau with such a fully developed glazed bookcase is relatively uncommon. It places this piece among the more ambitious Bordeaux productions of the mid-18th century, made for a wealthy clientele connected with the city’s major maritime trade.

The extensive use of solid mahogany, a precious wood imported from the West Indies and particularly prized in the great French port cities during the 18th century, is another notable feature of this piece.

The furniture naturally displays different shades of mahogany, some areas having acquired lighter or deeper tones over time. These variations are part of the character of the timber and do not affect the overall coherence of the piece.

The bureau bookcase has survived in a very fine overall state of preservation and with a remarkable degree of authenticity. It retains, in particular, its original interior arrangement, old locks and hardware.

Some traces of use are naturally visible, consistent with its age: key marks on the fall front, friction marks left by the iron supports, as well as small surface marks and minor age-related imperfections.

There is also a discreet old repair to one corner of the fall front, together with an old split in a mahogany element beneath the upper cornice.

These points remain minor in relation to the overall condition of the piece and are best understood as part of its long history rather than as significant alterations.

Bordeaux work.
Louis XV period, mid-18th century, circa 1750–1760.
Solid mahogany; secondary woods to the backboards and structural elements.