Flat desk – Louis XVI

A flat desk, featuring amaranth veneering,
rosewood and stained sycamore adorned with chiselled gilded bronze.
Philippe–Claude Montigny (1734 – 1800)

Stamped by Ph. C. MONTIGNY.
Circa 1775-1780

Donated by Grog-Carven.
Musée du Louvre, Paris

This flat desk, which was crafted circa 1775-1780, is a prime example of Philippe-Claude Montigny’s genius.

The cabinetmaker played with the contrasting shades of various wood essences: amaranth, rosewood and tinted sycamore. Phlippe-Claude Montigny was a talented cabinetmaker who was praised for his “Grecian style” furniture pieces. He was particularly fond of wooden veneering and would use it on large surfaces. He used it to create a contrast with the engraved gilded bronze ornaments, whose patterns are typical of his work. Such ornaments are present on the garlanded friezes featured on this flat desk. Montigny made a point of allowing them to stand out: there are fluted bronze patterns along the legs which resemble capitals and garlands and on the beaded framing rods and on the locks.
This outstanding flat desk features an unusually large number of delicate bronze ornaments, which are the most important element of this piece of furniture.

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