A Louis XV gilt-bronze-mounted amaranth, kingwood, tulipwood and floral marquetry secrétaire à rideau by Adrien Delorme, circa 1750

the moulded marble top above a serpentine tambour front enclosing an arrangement of compartments and drawers above a writing slide and two cupboard doors below opening to reveal a compartment with one shelf, on cabriole feet with gilt-bronze sabot, the whole inlaid with floral marquetry within strapwork bands, stamped DELORME

This extremely elegant piece is in very good conserved condition including the surface which has been re-polished. Small restorations to veneer, most notably to the left hand side return. There are minor marks and scratches consistent with age and use, in particular to the serpentine tambour front. The writing slide is in sound condition. There has been some minor re-enrgraving to the floral marquetry and the interior has some alterations and later elements. The stained wood marquetry displays attractive shades of green to foliage, the colour having aged gracefully. The gilt-bronzes retaining a warm patina. Ready to be placed.
"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:

Kjellberg, Le mobilier français du XVIIIe siècle, Paris, 1998, pp. 243-47.

During his lifetime, Adrien Delorme (maître 1748) came to be regarded as ‘l’un de plus habiles et des plus renommés pour les ouvrages de marqueterie’. Indeed, floral marquetry seems to have become his trademark from comparatively early on in his career, with realistic flowers on a lighter ground framed by rinceaux of darker woods, as seen on a secrétaire at the Musée Carnavalet (MB 394). The son of the cabinet-maker François Delorme (1691-1768), Adrien had his workshop in Rue du Temple, and was both an ébéniste and a marchand-mercier, flourishing until his retirement in 1783.

Because of its graceful shape and exquisitely fitted interior, this type of small secrétaire à rideau coulissant was particularly successful in the intimate apartments favoured by the aristocracy between Paris and Versailles during the reign of Louis XV. Variations on this theme include a pair sold Sotheby’s London, 25 June 1982, lot 96, another one sold Sotheby’s Monaco, 13 June 1996, lot 93, and one sold Sotheby’s Monaco, 11 December 1999, lot 66. A further, smaller writing table also with tambour doors concealing similarly inlaid drawers sold Sotheby’s London, 13 December 1996, lot 108.