Bureau Plat
ca. 1785-1790 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Jean-Henri Riesener was cabinet-maker to Louis XVI of France and specialised in furniture of the very highest quality. Although this piece is competently made, and carries his stamp, it is of good rather than exceptional quality and it is possible that the stamp was added in the 19th century, for the benefit of the English art market, at the same time as the porcelain plaques. Certainly, Riesener is not known for making porcelain-mounted furniture. John Jones, who left this table, with the rest of his large collection, to the Museum in 1882, was a keen collector, who rated porcelain-mounted pieces very highly. Dealers must have known this and one may have ordered the embellishment of this table, knowing that Jones would be attracted by such a small, delicate and highly ornamented piece.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Veneered in burr mahogany, rosewood, boxwood and stained sycamore, on a carcase of oak and pine; set with gilt bronze mounts and porcelain plaques |
| Brief description | Writing table (bureau plat), veneered with burr mahogany and set with porcelain and gilt bronze, French, ca. 1785-90 |
| Physical description | Writing table with two drawers, veneered in burr mahogany, rosewood, boxwood and stained sycamore, on carcase of oak and pine, set with gilt bronze mounts and porcelain plaques |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'J H RIESENER JME' (Stamped on the upper rim of both drawers and on the underneath of the back rail near the PR back leg) |
| Credit line | Bequeathed by John Jones |
| Object history | In the collection of John Jones before 1882 |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Jean-Henri Riesener was cabinet-maker to Louis XVI of France and specialised in furniture of the very highest quality. Although this piece is competently made, and carries his stamp, it is of good rather than exceptional quality and it is possible that the stamp was added in the 19th century, for the benefit of the English art market, at the same time as the porcelain plaques. Certainly, Riesener is not known for making porcelain-mounted furniture. John Jones, who left this table, with the rest of his large collection, to the Museum in 1882, was a keen collector, who rated porcelain-mounted pieces very highly. Dealers must have known this and one may have ordered the embellishment of this table, knowing that Jones would be attracted by such a small, delicate and highly ornamented piece. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1061-1882 |
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| Record created | November 9, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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