RIESENER, Jean-Henri
(b. 1754, Gladbeck, d. 1806, Paris)

Roll-top desk

1769
Oak veneered with various wood, gilt-bronze mounts, height 140 cm
Wallace Collection, London

This very fine desk is of oak veneered with holly, sycamore, burr walnut, tulipwood and purplewood. It was made for the young and vainglorious comte d'Orsay who had just acquired the hotel de Clermont in the rue de Varenne. It closely imitates the celebrated bureau du Roi which Riesener, following the design of Jean-François Oeben, had then just completed for Louis XV at Versailles (where it remains). Like the King's desk, d'Orsay's is signed by Riesener in the marquetry.




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