Writing Table (Bureau Plat)
1783-1785 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The form of this table was one favoured by Carlin and variations of it were made using plainer veneered wood panels as well as the more elaborate versions using Sevres plaques instead of lacquer panels but still employing similar arrangements of drawers and ormolu mounts. It is known that Carlin supplied such a table to the marchand-mercier Dominique Daguerre, as a Sevres mounted table bearing his trade label, was purchased by the Grand-Duchess Marie Feodorovna, together with a quantitiy of other furniture from Daguerre's premises in Paris which she visited in 1784. The lacquer panels on this table are much earlier in date and and have been cut down and made to fit, using lacquer cut from a different object. As lacquer was highly prized, and at this time furniture in Japanese lacquer was very fashionable, this practice was common among ebenistes in Paris, who were making furniture to order for the marchands-merciers.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 4 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Oak carcase veneered with ebony and panels of Japanese lacquer (urushi) decorated with black ground and gold (hiramakie and takamakie), gilt brass mounts. |
| Brief description | Writing table with curved ends fitted with narrow panels of Japanese lacquer. |
| Physical description | Writing table with curved ends raised on four tapering legs. The frieze is fitted with fourteen narrow panels of Japanese (urushi) lacquer, depicting rocks, trees, houses, a bridge and a figure. The frieze also fitted with three drawers, the centre front drawer fitted out for writing materials. The whole decorated with ormolu (gilt bronze) mounts of drapery festoons, pendants, bands and an open gallery on the top. The leather top is a 1971 replacement. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | Stamped 'M.CARLIN' and 'JME' three times |
| Gallery label |
|
| Credit line | Bequeathed by John Jones |
| Object history | Possibly commissioned by Dominique Daguerre. Formerly in the collection of John Jones. A table of similar form but with marquetry in the style of the English late-18th century was produced by Maple & Co. in the late 1890s and illustrated by them in an undated catalogue (copy held at the Geffrye Museum, London, acc. no. 234/1998) entitled Illustrations of Useful Articles Suitable for Presents (this catalogue mentions the firms address at rue Boudreau, Paris, which dates it to post 1896). As there was no Hepplewhite or Sheraton design of this form, it is tempting to think that the model was based on the V&A example, seen after the bequest came to the Museum in 1882. A copy of the image is held in departmental files. |
| Historical context | As the entire surface of this table is richy decorated, in the 18th century it would have been used as a writing table in the middle of a room. From the 1883 handbook to the Jones Collection, "One half of the folding doors (between the larger front Drawing Room and the smaller back Drawing Room) was closed and the table (no.1049) was put against it. Upon this table were the bronze horses (no. 973) and some smaller objects." In the illustration p.29 Fig.10 - Drawing Room at 95 Piccadilly, the table appears to be the one shown on the far left of the inner room. |
| Summary | The form of this table was one favoured by Carlin and variations of it were made using plainer veneered wood panels as well as the more elaborate versions using Sevres plaques instead of lacquer panels but still employing similar arrangements of drawers and ormolu mounts. It is known that Carlin supplied such a table to the marchand-mercier Dominique Daguerre, as a Sevres mounted table bearing his trade label, was purchased by the Grand-Duchess Marie Feodorovna, together with a quantitiy of other furniture from Daguerre's premises in Paris which she visited in 1784. The lacquer panels on this table are much earlier in date and and have been cut down and made to fit, using lacquer cut from a different object. As lacquer was highly prized, and at this time furniture in Japanese lacquer was very fashionable, this practice was common among ebenistes in Paris, who were making furniture to order for the marchands-merciers. |
| Bibliographic reference | Elizabeth Miller and Hilary Young, eds., The Arts of Living. Europe 1600-1815. V&A Publishing, 2015. ISBN: 978 1 85177 807 2, illustrated p. 174. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1049:1-1882 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | April 9, 2009 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
