Alfred-Emmanuel-Louis Beurdeley 1847-1919 A Louis XVI style gilt-bronze mounted amaranth, burr wood, mahogany, ebony and lacquer secrétaire à abattant Paris, circa 1870, in the manner of adam weisweiler

brocatelle jaune d'Espagne marble above a long drawer, the fall front opening to reveal a lacquered interior with compartments, one frieze drawer, mark BY in cursive letters to the reverse of the escutcheon mount.

F. J. B. Watson, The Wrightsman Collection: Furniture , pp. 191-194, for illustrations of similar 18th century models, circa 1785, by Adam Weisweiler

D. Ledoux-Lebard, Le Mobilier Français du XIX Siècle,
pp. 75-82
C. Payne, 19th Century European Furniture, pp. 33-34
A. Pradère, French Furniture Makers, p. 391, fig. 477

P. Lemonnier, Weisweiler, p. 67

Overall in good original and untouched condition; the marble top with an old invisible repaired break showing two rods too the underside and with minor chips to edges; all bronzes dirty and tarnished and would benefit from a cleaning, but with some pitting to gilding mostly to moldings; the lacquer panels with sun damage and minor cracquelure consistent with age; the rectangular lacquer panel to the left side with two horizontal hairline cracks and with minute losses to black lacquer, now showing gesso; small loss to veneer to top of back left leg; the lock to the fall front in need of repair; minor chips to lacquer to edges of drawers; slight lifting to inlaid brass banding to reverse of fall front; minute chips and losses to the edges of the laquer panels decorating the frieze 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.

Similar or close models by Beurdeley were sold in the international market recently. See: Sotheby's New York, A Private Collection, Vol II, April 19, 2007, lot 184 which sold for $ 102,000 and Christie's London, March 19, 2008, lot 84 which sold for £ 50,900.