bonheur du jour - desks
Bonheur-du-jour. A lady's small writing table, with an upper, usually glass-fronted cabinet containing drawers, pigeonholes and other conveniences. Very feminine and elegant, the form was first introduced in France in the mid-18th century, although it was quickly taken up by the English cabinetmakers. The style continued to be made throughout the 19th century, very often ebonised with gilt mounts and porcelain plaque inserts. The term literally means 'happiness of the day', and it was presumably at such a desk that the society matron both read and wrote her morning letters.
11 item(s) found:
A boulle bonheur de jour, writing desk 19th century, France constructed with tortoiseshell and brass inlay, ebonised wood with ormolu mounts with writing slide inside lower drawer. Height 153 cm. Width 82 cm. Depth 49.5 cm
A Louis XV style rosewood and marquetry bonheur du jour 20th century, the shaped back with a gallery edged display shelf supported by foliate cast columns above two drawers, the lower section with a singled frieze drawer,…
An Edwardian mahogany bonheur du jour, the stepped rectangular back with a central mirror panelled cupboard, flanked by a further two solid panelled doors, the lower section with a central frieze drawer and a further two drawers to either side,…
Finest quality 19th century mahogany cross-banded and strung ladies cylinder top bon-heure du jour desk with sliding and fitted interior
A French walnut Louis XV style bonheur du jour with cylinder front. A French walnut Louis XV style bonheur du jour with cylinder front three frieze drawers on high cabriole supports with ormolu sabots
A Louis XV style scarlet tortoiseshell and boulle bonheur du jour, the concave fall gilt metal mounted back centred by a medallion and shell cresting above an open display shelf,…
A French 18th century Louis XVI ormolu-mounted mahogany bonheur du jour, by Pierre Garnier, Paristhe upper-structure surmounted by a three-quarter gallery surround, above two tambour sliding doors and eight small drawers,…
A French late 19th century Louis XV style kingwood bonheur du jour with a shaped stepped top, a frieze drawer on cabriole supports with ormolu sabots. Width 50 cm. Length 76 cm. Height 96 cm
A decorative French late 19th century kingwood and floral marquetry decorated ladies bonheur du jour. Height 111 cm. Width 70 cm. Depth 46 cm
19th century Parisian, Louis XV style, tulipwood Bonheur du jour (desk) with finely inlaid panels depicting rococo floral and foliate motifs, finely chased gilt bronze handles and mounts, a 'breche' marble top,…
19th century Sévres panelled and ebonized Bonheur de Jour with panelled cupboards and rich ormolu mounts