Secretaries
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Attributed to Maison Krieger, Paris, after an 18th century model, by Jean Henri Riesener in the last quarter of the 19th century, mahogany and oak, partly mahogany veneered, polished in the traditional polished in the traditional craftsman’s technique, rich, top quality gilt bronze gilded bronze fittings, mouldings and panel edgings, 2 drawers at the front, 1 writing flap, 1 intermediate compartment with five inner drawers, leather-covered writing surface, marble top (bleu turquin), 122 x 66 x 37 cm, beautiful professionally restored condition.
The model for this piece of furniture was a “secretaires en cabinet” by Jean-Henri Riesener. Master from 1768 and undisputedly one of the most important representatives of the Louis XVI period. The right to make replicas of it was held by Louis Auguste Alfred BEURDELEY at the time of Napoleon III and passed to his son Alfred to his son Alfred-Emmanuel when he took over the studio. It was subsequently bought by Francois LINKE, a pupil of Antoin Krieger. Under the co-operation of the many pieces of Linke furniture were sold under the name Maison Krieger. It sub-licences were also granted for the replication of individual models. With The furniture on offer is associated with a number of important 19th century century, and it is not possible to say with certainty which of the 3 ateliers (Krieger, Linke, Beurdeley) the furniture comes from.
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Louis XVI period, by the French cabinetmaker Jean Chrysostome Stumpff (master from 1766), circa 1775, stamped, softwood body, veneered with rosewood and amaranth as well as with various partially coloured precious woods, marquetry in pattern themes typical of this cabinetmaker, polished in traditional craftsmanship, 2 doors, 1 drawer and writing flap on the front, interior with 6 inner drawers, open compartments and two gold-decorated cartoniers, gilded chiselled bronze mounts, 139 x 97 x 98 cm, beautiful, perfectly restored condition.
This type of “Trompe-Oeil” marquetry, a combination of cube and diamond patterns, can be found on chests of drawers and desks as well as on secretaries by Jean Chrysostome Stump. This three-dimensional pattern, most probably invented by Stump himself, became such a success that other renowned ebenists such as Roger Vandercruse, Pierre Roussel and Jean George Schlichtig also used it on their furniture. Two almost identical secretaries are illustrated in Pierre Kjellberg’s reference book “Le Mobilier francais du XVIII siecle”, 1998 edition, as works by Jean Chrysostome Stump (page 827) and Jean Georges Schlichtig (page 791). Subject to species protection (ASB)
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€6,500.00Louis XV style, France, end of the 19th century. Various hardwoods and softwoods, veneered, primed in red, decorated in lacquer technique in the form of landscape scenes on the reverse side, raised work. Two drawers on the front, sloping writing. Writing flap and two pull-out support slats. Interior with four drawers, sliding back bottom section, top and inside with red leather upholstery decorated with gold, gilded bronze ornamental fittings. Dimensions: 93 x 90 x 56 cm, beautiful restored condition
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€6,800.00Softwood and hardwood body on slightly curved feet. Veneered with satinwood, rosewood and rosewood. Field-marked and with indicated fluting on the studs. A front loading drawer in the upper section as well as a writing tablet lined with gold embossed leather on the inside. Decorative bronze doré fittings including “chien courrant” frieze, corner bronzes and other motifs. 6-layered interior, profiled grey marble top. Dimensions: 142 x 100 x 40 cm. Condition: Restored condition. Surface polished with nat. shellac
Secretaries
We understand secretaries to be furniture that serves to store documents and possibly also provides a writing surface.
In the 16th century, especially in Italy and Holland, so-called cabinets were built. They were mostly delicate corpus furniture that stood on higher feet and had a multitude of drawers, compartments and hinged doors. During the Renaissance, they were among the most magnificent objects made of materials such as ebony, ivory, tortoiseshell and precious stones.
In Central Europe, from the beginning of the XVIII century, secretaries go back to a further development of tabernacle cabinets, which were additionally equipped with a hinged writing tablet.
A particularly large number of secretary types were created in France from the Louis XV era onwards:
- Stand Secretary (Secrétaire à abattant or secrétaire droit)
- Writing Commode (Commode formant secrétaire)
- Travel Secretary (Secrétaire de voyage)
- Cylinder secretary (Secrétaire à cylindre)
- Secretary with sloping top (Secrétaire de pente or “dos d’ane”)
- Ladies’ Secretary with Body (Bonheur du jour)
- High Secretary (Secrétaire en guillotine)
- High-legged secretaries (Secrétaire en cabinet)
All these forms were produced in the Louis XVI, Empire and throughout the XIX century. Most of them were made of veneered wood and marked. Specimens with chinoiseries were particularly valuable. Naturally, they had a bronze doré fitting, sometimes very rich.