BRONZE-ADORTED FLAP SECRETARY from the Cressent... Lot 46

BRONZE-ADORTED FLAP SECRETARY from the Cressent repertoire Louis XV period, circa 1760-1770 Amaranth, rose, violet and satinwood; gilt bronzes; marble H. 148 cm, W. 118 cm, D. 48 cm This secretary, of harmonious proportions, opens with a flap and two leaves. It rests on a molded plinth that echoes the cornice on top. When open, it reveals six niches and seven drawers of various sizes. Closed, it presents four marquetry panels representing enrubined bouquets, highlighted in the upper register by a bronze rocaille crown and by rosettes in the lower spandrels. The side panels are decorated with flowering branches. The quality of execution of this floral marquetry recalls the work of the great master cabinetmakers of the time of Louis XV, and in particular those of Jean-François OEben (1721- 1763). The rich ornamentation of gilded bronzes, very finely chiseled. The flowery volutes with leafy scrolls, the geometrical interlacing, the shells, the rosettes are from the repertoire of Charles Cressent (1685-1768). The Parisian merchant-merchants were able to acquire the famous models at the sale of his workshop in 1757. Another secretary with flap, from the former René Smadja collection, shares the same decorative vocabulary of rosette spandrels and oval reticulated medallion falls as ours (fig. 1). However, our secretary differs from it by the refinement of its crown, the scalloped cut of its flap and the three elegant heart-shaped keyholes.