A gilt-bronze-mounted kingwood, amaranth and parquetry bureau plat early Louis XV, circa 1740

of serpentine form with a later tooled leather top above three frieze drawers opposing dummy drawers, the knees with a foliate and rocaille cast mount, the sides with a pierced rocaille mount, on cabriole legs terminating in gilt-bronze scrolled feet; partly reveneered

In overall good condition. Old minor marks, chips and scratches to the veneer comensurate with age and usage. The veneer has been patched in places. The gilding on the mounts is slightly worn in places The side mounts have possibly been re-gilt. Construction crack at side of rear left leg when facing with some of veneer lifting which can easily be restored. The mounts are a little dirty and would benefit from a light clean according to taste.
"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:
Pierre Kjellberg, Le Mobilier Français du XVIIIe Siècle, Paris,1998, p. 393.
Alexandre Pradère, French Furniture Makers,The Art of the Ebéniste, from Louis XIV to the Revolution,Tours,1989, pp. 205-206.
François Quéré, Les Roussel Une Dynastie d'ébénistes au XVIIIe siècle, Dijon, 2012, p.120 -121.

The form of this elegant bureau plat and the design of the mounts is reminiscent of the work of Pierre Roussel, amongst others, see Quéré, op. cit., p.120, for a bureau plat by Roussel with almost identical knee and side mounts. A very similar knee mount  is illustrated by the same author op. cit., on p. 121, which is on a commode by Adrien Delorme. Roussel's mounts can be found on pieces by other ébénistes such as Jacques-Philippe Carel, Hubert Hansen and Jacques Bircklé to name but a few. However, the central drawer is usually recessed on Roussel's bureau plat so another likely maker for this bureau plat could be Hubert Hansen, see Kjellberg, op. cit., p. 393, for a bureau plat with an identically shaped serpentine frieze centred by a  straight drawer with similar knee and frieze mounts.  
A bureau plat of similar form with identical knee and frieze mounts, the latter applied with the scroll at the top and very similar side mounts, stamped by Pierre Roussel was sold Sotheby's Paris, 6th April 2011, lot 85 (€29,000).

Pierre Roussel received Master 1745.
Hubert Hansen received Master in 1747.