Counterweighted Secretary Desk & Mercury-gilded Bronze, Circa 1820

A drop-front secretary desk with a counterweight, dating from the Empire-Restoration period, circa 1820, crafted from burl mahogany veneer with striking symmetrical motifs and topped with an original black marble tabletop. This beautifully crafted Parisian piece, mounted on an oak frame, features an upper drawer and a drop-down door lined with original leather, revealing a compartmentalized interior with small drawers and a niche, as well as two solid doors in the lower section. It is richly adorned with original mercury-gilded and finely chiseled bronze fittings, including superb console finials with floral motifs, finely chiseled lock plates shaped like flowering cornucopias, and corner palmettes, all of which attest to its timeless refinement and authentic patina.

Small cracks on the sides; overall in very good condition

Shipping within France: €120