Style Napoleon III / Ref.10704

Julien-Nicolas RIVART (1802-1867) - Curved writing desk with lozenges marquetry And flowers bouquet in porcelain inlay

This charming writing desk is designed in curves : the rounded feet follows a movement that also curves the sides of the chest. On this one, the rosewood has been plaited in a nice work of marquetry in lozenges. The elegant sobriety of black and gold highlights the luminosity of the rosewood veneer, the false marble, and the vivid colors of the porcelain flowers. Auguste Luchet evoked with lyricism "the magic that comes from a bouquet in kaolin on a black background" like on our desk. The chest is indeed graciously decorated with Julien-Nicolas Rivart 's porcelains. He is the inventor of the porcelain marquetry technique, a unique process, searched for a long time and patented in 1849, he was the only one to master. We have here a beautiful example of these rare decorations with a bouquet of roses, white campanulas, pansies, tulip and forget-me-nots. The shelf is adorned as well by a beautiful frieze of wild flowers. Rivart , a skillful artist, achieved an aesthetic synthesis between the Florentine hard stone marquetry and the decoration of porcelain slabs from 18th century. He can hence combine the lightness of marquetry and its sophisticated contrasts effects, with the charm of painting on porcelain. The marquetry invented by Rivart enables these sophisticated hues to contrast directly with the wood, and prevents to hide the veins and the cabinetmaker's beautiful work. For that reason, at the World's Fairs of 1851, 1855 and 1867, this technique is described as "a delicious process", "yet more beautiful than beautiful", and receives the Emperor Napoleon III's congratulations. Open, the desk offers its beautiful rose wood veneers and its mahogany lozenges marquetry. The chest includes two shelves and five drawers equipped with gilt bronze vegetable shaped handles. At last, the shelf is embellished by an embossed and gilt leather blotter.

Rivart , a skillful artist, achieved an aesthetic synthesis between the Florentine hard stone marquetry and the decoration of porcelain slabs from 18th century. He can hence combine the lightness of marquetry and its sophisticated contrasts effects, with the charm of painting on porcelain. The marquetry invented by Rivart enables these sophisticated hues to contrast directly with the wood, and prevents to hide the veins and the cabinetmaker's beautiful work. For that reason, at the World's Fairs of 1851, 1855 and 1867, this technique is described as "a delicious process", "yet more beautiful than beautiful", and receives the Emperor Napoleon III's congratulations.

Open, the desk offers its beautiful rose wood veneers and its mahogany lozenges marquetry. The chest includes two shelves and five drawers equipped with gilt bronze vegetable shaped handles. At last, the shelf is embellished by an embossed and gilt leather blotter.