a gilt-bronze mounted mahogany and coromandel lacquer table À Écrire Paris, circa 1860

the top sliding horizontally to the back to reveal a spring-released drawer opening to an adjustable lecturn fitted with a tooled claret leather writing surface swinging to reveal a mirror.

P. Verlet, Les Ébénistes du XVIIIe Siècle Français, p. 283, for an illustration of a similar model by Adam Weisweiler, in the Niarchos Collection.

P. Lemonnier, Weisweiler, p. 74 and pp. 116-117, for discussions and drawings on Weisweiler's stretcher designs.

High tarnishing to gilt-bronze. The coromandel lacquer table top is highly uneven consistent with wood movement and shrinkage resulting in two vertical cracks to lacquer to the left and right sides of the top. Chips to lacquer to the back frieze. The stretcher with 4 cracks. The drawer opens to a leather lined writing slide which has scratches to the leather and wear to the right side of the drawer.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This high quality writing table is closely related to the style of the celebrated cabinetmaker Adam Weisweiler (1744-1820), reçu maître en 1778, on the basis of its distinctive looped stretcher, here centered by a basket.

A table of exact form and coromandel decoration, stamped P.A. Foullet was sold, Sotheby's, London, June 15, 1990, lot 98, £32,000; another, with the branded stamp EU beneath a crown, for the Château d'Eu, made by Pérreau of Paris, sold, Sotheby's, London, November 2, 1990, lot 17.