A kingwood and parquetry table liseuse stamped Migeon Louis XV, mid 18th century

with a moulded serpentine rectangular top with a racheted gilt-tooled black leather-lined writing-surface and a rising green silk firescreen flanked by a panel inlaid with cube parquetry, the frieze concealing a pull-out gilt-tooled black leather writing slide with a drawer in each side, the right drawer fitted for writing implements including two later brass containers, on cabriole legs headed by a foliate and shell mount and terminating in C-scroll and rockwork sabots and brass castors, stamped 'MIGEON' three times, with later gilt-bronze mounts throughout; restorations to the veneers 

Purchased from Partridge Fine Arts, London, by the parents of the present owner.

Partridge Fine Arts, Summer Exhibition, 1983, cat. 46 (illustrated).

In overall very good conserved condition. The leather top on both the writing surface and the pull-out slide have old very minor marks, chips and scratches. Restorations to the construction of interior. The base of the drawer with the ink pots has been restored. In places on the legs, it would appear that the grain has been painted on to simulate the grain of veneer.The silk on the screen is a later replacement.
"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:
Sophie Mouquin, Pierre IV Migeon, Paris, 2001, pp 108-118.
Pierre Kjellberg, Le Mobilier Français du XVIIIe Siècle, Paris,1998, p. 578, for a table liseuse in kingwood with a rising screen and writing slope by Migeon.

This table is typical of the work of the talented ébéniste Pierre II Migeon, now known to be Pierre IV Migeon (1696-1758) (see lot 106), who specialized in such meubles à transformation. He delivered several examples to the Garde-Meuble de la Couronne such as the table à pupitre for the Dauphin in 1747. Only the finest pieces bear gilt-bronze mounts or have a firescreen. The geometrical parquetry is one of the signatures of the Migeon. Another table volante by Migeon with cube parquetry veneers can be found at the Getty Museum, California A table similar to the Getty’s was sold at Christie’s in 1997 (Christie’s New York, 21st May 1997, lot 633, ($112,500).