A fine and rare Retour d'Egypte silvered and gilt-bronze-mounted flame mahogany secrétaire à abattant Empire, circa 1805

with a rectangular black marble top above the symbol of the Temple of Denderah, the fall-front decorated with symbols from the Rosetta stone of Tolomeus V, the escutcheon with the eye of Horus, the angles with the the key of Ankh opening to reveal a model of the Temple of Ghiza above two short and one long drawer surmounted by recumbent Egyptian sphinxes, the stiles decorated with hieroglyphs above two doors with a quadrant recess with two addorsed Nubians with spears carved in low relief opening to reveal three long drawers on a plinth base and double bun feet  

Colour slightly darker and more attractive than in the catalogue illustration. The top is not black marble but blue turquin (grey coloured) and has a restoration across the rear left corner where there was a previous break. Internally there is a push button contained within the eye on the top of the pyramid which releases a flap at the front which is a most unusual feature. Very attractive flaming to the mahogany which has a good patina with some patches and restored cracks which are very well done and are hardly noticeable. Some very minor rubbing to the bronze Moore figures on the doors. The Egyptian symbols are inlaid in silvered metal and the figures are well cast. This is a most unusual design and is beautifully cast and is in very good conserved condition and can be placed immediately. Highly recommended.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Comparative Literature:
D. O. Kisluk-Grosheide, European Furniture in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Highlights of the Collection, New York, 2006, pp. 218-221.

This extraordinary piece represents the apogee of the Retour d' Egypte taste which reached its apogee in France in the early years of the 19th century. This taste was inspired by the Egyptian campaign of Napoleon in 1798. In 1802, Denon, see post , published his `Description of Egypt', an engraving of which depicts the Pyramid of Memphis, reproduced here in fig.1.

This piece is covered in Egyptian motifs and symbols of Ancinet Egypt. The motif on the frieze in silvered bronze imitates the falcon Horus with two serpents which is found on many Egyptian Temples including the Temple of Denderah, an engraving of which by Denon, circa 1802, is reproduced here in fig. 2. The pyramid inside this piece is a scale version of the Pyramid of Cheopes at Ghiza. The sphinzes flanking it are based upon Roman original from the 1st-2nd century AD, in the collection of Villa Borghese in Rome and conceal secret drawers. The eye on the pyramid also opens up revealing further secret drawers inside. The elliptical motif containing hieroglyphs on the front of the fall-front are based upon inscriptions found on the Tomb of Tolomeus V sculpted on the famous Rosetta stone which was rediscovered on 9th July 1799. The other symbols on the stiles are based upon hieroglyphs. However, they are meaningless as hieroglyphs were not fully deciphered until the work of Jean-François Champollion (1790-1832) was published. The seated Nubians are loosely based upon those on the Large Temple of Abu Simbel.There are also many Masonic symbols on the piece reflecting the importance of the Masons after the French Revolution. 

It is also worthwhile comparing the magnificent medal cabinet  circa 1809-19, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, (26.168.77) illustrated by Kisluk-Grosheide, op. cit..p. 207, reproduced here in fig. 3. It is after a design by Charles Percier (1764-1838) probably following instructions from Baron Dominique-Vivant-Denon  (1747-1825) and made by Francois-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter (1770-1841), with silver mounts by Martin-Guillaume Biennais (1764-1843). Denon may have instructed the designer Charles Percier regarding this cabinet. The pylon (gateway) at Apollonopolis Parva (now Ghoos) in Upper Egypt which was recorded in Denon's book inspired the top section. Denon had accompanied Napoleon on his Egyptian campaign in 1798-99 as a recording draftsman and the book that he wrote based on his experiences and observations along the Nile, Voyage dans la basse et la haute Egypte (1802), `brought ancient Egypt to life for his readers and whipped up to a frenzy the European craze known as Egyptomania. ' 

As on other grand furniture of the Empire period, the Metropolitan Museum's medal cabinet is decorated with applied and inlaid metal, however, on the offered piece, the fittings are of the finest silvered bronze ather than the usual gilded bronze. As Jean-Marcel Humbert observed,`The originality and variety of its decoration make this piece an excellent illustration of the taste for things Egyptian at the beginning of the nineteenth century. At the same time, it is the very essence of Egyptomania: the adaptation of antique forms and decorations, in dimensions as well as materials, to a type of object and function completely different from those associated with these symbols in Antiquity'. The same could also be said of this unique secrétaire.