French Ormolu Desk Appraisal

French Louis XV Style Ormolu-Mounted Bureau Plat

This is a fine French Louis XV style bureau plat, or writing desk, likely dating from the mid-to-late 20th century as a high-quality reproduction of an 18th-century original. The desk features a rectangular top with slightly serpentine sides, inset with a dark green or black leather writing surface finished with gold-tooled decorative borders. The wood appears to be a rich mahogany or kingswood veneer with contrasting stringing inlay outlining the drawer fronts. It is heavily adorned with gilt-bronze (ormolu) mounts, including a decorative molded edge around the desktop, mascaron-shaped drawer pulls, and elaborate foliated sabots on the feet. The piece stands on four elegant cabriole legs, with the front two featuring acanthus-leaf ormolu espagnolettes at the knees. The desk contains three frieze drawers, with the central drawer slightly recessed. While no specific maker's mark is visible in the photograph, the craftsmanship suggests a high-end European manufacturer. The condition appears to be excellent with a warm, aged patina on the brass mounts and minimal wear to the wood finish, though some minor scuffing on the leather writing surface is typical for a piece of this type. The overall aesthetics represent the opulence of the Rococo period with its emphasis on curved lines and ornate metalwork.