Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Walnut Secretary Desk with Marble Top
A late 18th-century French Louis XVI secrétaire à abattant crafted in walnut and topped with a gray and white veined marble slab. Sourced in Provence, France, the secretary features the restrained neoclassical proportions characteristic of the Louis XVI period, with fluted uprights, paneled fronts and tapered feet. A full-width upper drawer is fitted with brass handles and an escutcheon. Below, the drop-front opens to create a generous writing surface and reveals a fitted interior with an arrangement of small drawers, open compartments and shelving. The writing surface retains its reddish-brown leather inset finished with a decorative gilt-tooled border. The lower section features a pair of paneled cabinet doors opening to additional interior storage with a shelf. Brass hardware and escutcheons complement the warm walnut throughout. An antique key is included for decorative purposes only. The secretary has been structurally revised to ensure it is solid and stable. The walnut has been carefully cleaned and polished with wax, preserving the rich variations, age-related wear and patina developed over more than two centuries. The marble top also retains a beautiful patina consistent with its age. Combining a writing desk, fitted interior and enclosed storage within a relatively narrow footprint, this Louis XVI secretary is both highly functional and beautifully proportioned. - Origin: Provence, France - Period: Late 18th Century - Materials: Walnut, Marble, Brass, Leather - Dimensions: W 37.5" × D 16.75" × H 57.5"; Writing surface height when open: 30"; Slant-front writing area: W 31.62" x D 21.25" - Condition: Very good antique condition consistent with age and use. Structurally revised, solid and stable. The walnut has been polished with wax, preserving its natural patina. The marble top retains age-appropriate wear and patina. Antique key included for decorative purposes only.