Art Deco Writing Desk, France, Circa 1930

Here is a piece of furniture that stands out from the ordinary in terms of both its design and craftsmanship.
It is an Art Deco-style secretary desk, a French piece dating from around 1930.
It stands out first and foremost for its design, as it is neither quite a secretary desk nor simply a writing desk.
In fact, it retains the aesthetic minimalism of a writing desk by featuring a clean, uncluttered work surface, although it is crafted from very beautiful materials such as lemonwood and varnished vellum.
From the secretary desk, it retains the abundance of storage—seven drawers in total—but arranged differently: the two large drawers are set into the side panels, and the five small ones are located under the drop-down flap.
This original arrangement allows the piece to be displayed open—whether ready for use or as a display space for a collection, for example—without appearing visually cluttered, since everything can be neatly stowed away in the seven drawers designed for this purpose.
This piece also stands out from the ordinary thanks to its meticulous craftsmanship and the choice of luxurious materials, such as solid oak for the frame, Macassar ebony, boxwood, lemonwood, and vellum for the finish.
The piece is in excellent condition, both cosmetically and functionally.
It was carefully restored fairly recently by skilled artisans selected by its former owner.
Only the top of the piece shows slight scratches and superficial signs of wear.
The drawers slide easily, and the drop-down panel remains perfectly flat.
This piece comes with all of its original keys and one contemporary key.
The two large drawers are lockable, as are the drop-down panel and the two doors concealing the five small drawers.
This is, therefore, an authentic, original, luxurious Art Deco piece—as practical as it is elegant—and almost timeless due to its understated aesthetic.