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Writing table
Leleu, Jean-François, born 1729 - died 1764 - Enlarge image
Writing table
- Place of origin:
Paris, France (made)
- Date:
ca. 1760 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Leleu, Jean-François, born 1729 - died 1764 (maker)
- Materials and Techniques:
Case and large drawer of oak; nest and three internal drawers of poplar, marquetry of various woods; gilt brass mounts; green leather, green velvet; brass locking hardware, steel key.
- Credit Line:
Bequeathed by John Jones
- Museum number:
1017:1 to 3-1882
- Gallery location:
In Storage
This small writing-table is not stamped with the maker's mark, as most furniture made in Paris between about 1751 and 1792 was supposed to be. None the less, it is possible to attribute it to Jean-François Leleu (1729-1807), because the table is of exactly the same form as a small group of writing tables that are stamped by that maker. Although we know very little about Leleu's apprenticeship, we know that as a journeyman (a newly-qualified cabinet-maker) he worked in the workshop of Jean-François Oeben. Oeben was cabinet-maker to the king and was particularly known for the clever gadgetry of his furniture. This table has a neat sliding mechanism that allows the top drawer to be drawn forward to create a writing surface that can also be raised to provide a reading stand. Leleu must have learned such tricks from his master, before he set up his own workshop in 1764. In the Oeben workshop, Leleu would also have seen fine examples of the sort of highly naturalistic flower marquetry that decorates the top of this table.
