Writing Table
ca. 1860-1880 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This writing table (bureau plat) was bequeathed to the V&A in 1882 by John Jones, who ran a successful military tailoring business in London. He was an avid collector of French 18th-century furniture and porcelain and his bequest to the V&A is one of the largest it has ever received.
When he bought this writing table, he thought that it was made in France in about 1780, but as a result of examinations this dating has been revised. It now seems likely that the table was made in London between about 1860 and 1880. Some of the porcelain plaques have slightly dished edges, suggesting that they were cut from 18th-century French tableware from the Sèvres porcelain factory. During the 19th century in Britain there was such high admiration for 18th-century French furniture that thousands of copies were made, some intended as fakes, some more innocently using the same materials and colours to evoke the period.
When he bought this writing table, he thought that it was made in France in about 1780, but as a result of examinations this dating has been revised. It now seems likely that the table was made in London between about 1860 and 1880. Some of the porcelain plaques have slightly dished edges, suggesting that they were cut from 18th-century French tableware from the Sèvres porcelain factory. During the 19th century in Britain there was such high admiration for 18th-century French furniture that thousands of copies were made, some intended as fakes, some more innocently using the same materials and colours to evoke the period.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Veneered in tulipwood, harewood (stained sycamore), box and other decorative woods on a carcase of oak; set with plaques of painted and gilded porcelain, and with lacquered brass mounts |
| Brief description | writing table, French, c.1780, marquetry, ormolu mounts, sevres pls |
| Physical description | A writing table or bureau plat veneered in marquetry of tulipwood, harewood (stained sycamore), boxwood and other decorative woods on a carcase of oak; set with painted and gilded porcelain plaques showing flowers in reserve against a dark blue ground, and with lacquered brass mounts. The tapering legs are of square section and the the frieze of the table contains three drawers, the front of the two outer ones set with marquetry of ogee trellis compartments, each set with a flower, the centre one set with four porcelain plaques within a single lacquered brass framing mount. On the back of the table, the panels replicate this decorative arrangement on blind drawer fronts. The top is inset with a writing surface of morocco leather |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Credit line | Bequeathed by John Jones |
| Production | When this bureau plat was acquired as part of the Jones Bequest in 1882 it was thought to date from the period of Louis XVI. It is now thought that, though some of the porcelain plaques may have been cut down from 18th century tablewares, the table itself was almost certainly made in London between 1860 and 1880. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This writing table (bureau plat) was bequeathed to the V&A in 1882 by John Jones, who ran a successful military tailoring business in London. He was an avid collector of French 18th-century furniture and porcelain and his bequest to the V&A is one of the largest it has ever received. When he bought this writing table, he thought that it was made in France in about 1780, but as a result of examinations this dating has been revised. It now seems likely that the table was made in London between about 1860 and 1880. Some of the porcelain plaques have slightly dished edges, suggesting that they were cut from 18th-century French tableware from the Sèvres porcelain factory. During the 19th century in Britain there was such high admiration for 18th-century French furniture that thousands of copies were made, some intended as fakes, some more innocently using the same materials and colours to evoke the period. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1018-1882 |
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| Record created | March 3, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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