Antique French Secretaire A battant in the Louis XVI taste, last quarter of the 19th Century

This extremely fine quality, Antique French Napoleon III, Louis XVI style, Secretaire A battant is of desirable compact size and has recently undergone museum quality refurbishment. The unit comprises of four full width vertically stacked drawers all with raised gilt perimeter mouldings and with intricate inlays of brass tracery with ivory and Mother of Pearl floral inlays. Between the first and second drawers is a drop down panel embellished in a similar manner to the drawers but more profusely with the inclusion of 'carved bone' classic urns and birds etc. When opened the drop down panel has a reverse side featuring an inset original tooled velvet writing surface with a Rosewood border and a lovely brass chased lock. The cabinet interior once revealed has an open shelf with a bank of Rosewood and Oak lined drawers with Amboyna ogee shaped drawer fronts separated by contrasting Kingwood vertical edge cross banding to the shelves separating the drawers .

The cabinet has a shaped and inset white marble top. Other embellishments include multiple gilt decorative perimeter moldings around the cabinet, applied female and foliate modings top and bottom of the full height cantered front corners while the sides have panels formed by two parallel rows of line inlays. The whole upon a shaped plinth base with short turned feet once again embellished with gilt collar mounts.

This magnificent piece has been professionally and superbly refurbished by museum quality restorers.

Condition: Excellent.

Size: Width 78 cm   x Depth x 42 cm  x Height. 141 cm.

Price: $14,875 slightly negotiable.

Sellers Observation: quality examples like this one are rare and this one is in exceptional condition as it was restored at a cost of nearly $7,000 by master museum restorers at Inhof Design.If you want the best in the best condition it will cost a little more than the average quality in average condition.