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17450
An Elegant Cubed Parquetry Bureau Plat
An Elegant Cubed Parquetry Bureau Plat
Dimensions: H: 30.5 in / 77 cm | W: 48 in / 121 cm | D: 26 in / 65 cm
Special Offer: £6,500
17450
Original Price: £12,800 | Special Offer: £6,500
Currently in unrestored original condition, please contact us for further information.
An Elegant Cubed Parquetry Bureau Plat
In the Louis XV Manner
Attributed to Wassmuss of Paris
Designed with the elegant curves typical of the Louis XV era, the writing table is constructed from tulipwood with amaranth crossbanding and dressed with fine ormolu mounts, supported on cabriole legs with foliate sabots and unusual rams’ head espagnolettes, the undulating frieze housing three lockable drawers faced with cubed parquetry which is repeated to the other fascia, the top set with a leather writing surface with gilt tooling.
French, circa 1860
Henri-Léonard Wassmus was a distinguished mid-19th century French cabinetmaker, likely the son of Jean-Henri-Chrétien Wassmus, who succeeded his father and uncle in the family workshop and elevated its reputation through his artistic vision and superior craftsmanship. Working from 146 rue du Faubourg-Saint-Denis from 1853, he became a supplier to the Garde-Meuble de la Couronne, receiving commissions for the royal residences at Compiègne, Saint-Cloud, and the Tuileries, among others. His work often incorporates intricate marquetry in exotic woods, gilt bronze mounts, and richly detailed ornamentation. He exhibited at the Expositions Universelles of 1855 and 1867, presenting furniture of exceptional quality. Though celebrated in his lifetime, Wassmus’s business suffered after his death in 1860, culminating in bankruptcy by 1861.
Comparative Literature:
Ledoux-Lebard, Denise. Le mobilier francais du XIXe siècle, 1795-1889 : dictionnaire des ébénistes et des menuisier. Paris: Éditions de l'amateur, 2000, p. 621, showing an identical table by Wassmuss.
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