Secrétaire à abattant

by François Bayer (maitre 1764)

France, circa 1780

Louis XVI period

Kingwood, with ormolu mounts and inlaid with various woods, including: purpleheart and fruitwoods, with lattice work,

panels of ribbon tied musical trophies and an urn, the grey marble moulded edge top above a frieze drawer and a hinged fall,

revealing an interior fitted with six drawers and a later gilt tooled leather writing surface, the base with a pair of cupboard doors, enclosing a shelf

Measurement: 138.3cm high, 95.3cm wide, 38.5cm deep

Provenance:

Redlynch House, Salisbury, Wiltshire.

Relatable Literature:

See Pierre Kjellberg, Le Mobilier Francais Du XVIIIe Siecle, pp. 50-51 for details and illustrations of four further items by Bayer, including a secretaire of a similar form and a commode with a similar trophy inlay.

Relatable Works in Museums:

Victoria and Albert Museum, Accession Number 1065:1 to 3-1882 for a marquetry table by Bayer