Antique Louis XVI Style Ormolu And Sèvres Porcelain Mounted Secretaire
£45,877 per item
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Item details
Height
127.0 cm
Width
76.0 cm
Depth
37.0 cm
Wear conditions
Good
Wear conditions
Excellent
Shows little to no signs of wear and tear.
Good
May show slight traces of use in keeping with age. Most vintage and antique items fit into this condition.
Average
Likely to show signs of some light scratching and ageing but still remains in a fair condition.
Apparent Wear and Tear
Visible signs of previous use including scratches, chips or stains.
Please refer to condition report, images or make a seller enquiry for additional information.
Description
Antique Louis XVI style ormolu and Sèvres porcelain mounted secretaire
French, c. 1840
Height 127cm, width 76cm, depth 37cm
This magnificent secretaire was crafted around 1840 from a selection of high quality including 18th century Sèvres porcelain and mahogany. The piece comes with an interesting provenance.
The upper part of the secretaire is decorated with a central rectangular panel filled with Sèvres porcelain panels. The four edges are painted with dainty floral compositions framed by a gilt and pastel green border. The central, oval panel is framed similarly but is painted with a rich flower-filled vase atop a pedestal. Similar compositions can be found on the twin doors below.
The lockable fall-front opens to reveal three shelves, one storage compartment, and four drawers. In front is a leather-lined writing surface with debossed and gilt ornamentation. The twin doors below open to reveal further storage in the form of a shelf and a lockable compartment. The secretaire is adorned with elegant ormolu mounts all around, highlighting the beauty of the delicate and dainty Sèvres porcelain panels.
Four toupie feet with ormolu sabots support the piece. Its back is marked with ‘R282’ indicative of the Rothschild inventory number.
Until WWII the piece was in the collection of the Rothschild family when it was confiscated by the Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg (ERR). In 1941 the secretaire was transferred to the Jeu de Paume in Paris and on 20 June 1945 it was recovered by the Monuments Fine Arts and Archives Section from Alt Aussee, Austria and transferred to the Munich Central Collecting Point. In 1946 it was repatriated to France and later acquired privately.
The high quality of finish and interesting history make this secretaire a desirable addition to one’s interior space.
Provenance:
- Acquired by Baron Alphonse de Rothschild (1827-1905).
- Thence by descent to his son Baron Edouard de Rothschild (1868-1949).
- Confiscated from the above by Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg (ERR) and transferred to the Jeu de Paume after the Nazi occupation in 1941 (R 282).
- Recovered by the Monuments Fine Arts and Archives Section from Alt Aussee, Austria and transferred to the Munich Central Collecting Point, 20 June 1945 (MCCP no. 610).
- Repatriated to France, 19 September 1946.
- Acquired privately from the Succession de Baronne Edouard (Germaine Alice Halphen) de Rothschild (1884-1975) by the father of the previous owners.
Condition report:
Good. Wear consistent with age and use.
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Returns
We have a 14-day return guarantee for orders from individual sellers, within the UK and European Union. View full policy.
Free collection available
Yes
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- Ships from London, United Kingdom
Cancellations and Returns
Last updated: 24th March 2025
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