A French gilt-bronze-and porcelain-mounted ebony inlaid kingwood, tulipwood and parquetry bonheur du jour in Louis XVI style, circa 1870

in the manner of Martin Carlin, the Spanish portor moulded marble top above a frieze applied with vine leaves, the central door mounted with a gilt-bronze plaque showing Venus at her toilet between doors applied with Sèvres 'bleu celeste' style plaques, each small cupboard fitted with drawers, the lower section with conforming decoration and a fitted apron drawer, with concealed release catch, opening to reveal a leather-inset writing slide, veneered on the back to form a centrepiece

Of very good quality. The marble top with repaired breaks. Of good colour with a re-polished condition. Replaced leather writing surface.
"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, W. Koeppe, W. Rieder, European Furniture in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Highlights of the Collection, New Haven and London, 2006, p. 171, for a secrétaire à abattant attributed to Martin Carlin (1730-1785), circa 1776, of similar form, with a Sèvres plaque depicting a similar basket of flowers to that on the porcelain roundel on this piece.
A. Pradère, French furniture makers, The art of the ébéniste from Louis XIV to the Revolution, Tours, 1989, p. 347, fig. 407, for a related secrétaire by Carlin, which Poirier sold to madame du Barry in 1773, which has similar porcelain roundels with baskets of flowers (Kress Collection, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York).

This piece is conceived in the spirit of some of the most sought after porcelain-mounted furniture popularised by the leading Parisian marchand-merciers in the second half of the 18th century. The fashion for mounting porcelain plaques onto exquisite pieces of furniture was an innovation of the Parisian marchand-merciers around 1760. They included small tables, bonheur-du-jours, secrétaires and commodes. The celebrated dealer Simon-Philippe Poirier is credited with being the first marchand to combine porcelain plaques with furniture. Carlin soon began to supply Poirier with furniture, and his first recorded piece of porcelain-mounted furniture dates to 1763, a bonheur-du-jour now in the Bowes Museum, County Durham.