Flat desk, Regency period, 18th century

Large flat desk, all black lacquered sides opening with three drawers in a row. It rests on nicely curved legs enhanced with a decoration of bronzes with heads of figures and hooves, top covered in old brown leather surrounded by wood and an ingot mold.

Regency period, 18th century

France

“Boy with a hat” by Martin Drolling, circa 1790

Martin Drolling (1752-1817), a French painter, was noted for his portraits and genre scenes. Inspired by the Flemish masters, he mastered the art of capturing natural expressions and minute details, as evidenced by this portrait of great delicacy.

 

“Portrait of princess” by Jean Ducayer, vers 1640

Portrait of Princess Anne-Géneviève de Bourbon, Duchess of Longueville (1619-1679), daughter of the Prince of Condé and Charlotte de Montmorency. Oil on octagonal panel by Jean Ducayer, painted after a work by François Clouet.

Around 1640

18th century Venetian chest of drawers

In the 18th century, the fashion for Chinoiserie was particularly popular at European courts. Inspired by precious imports from China and Japan, this aesthetic allowed nobles to escape into an imaginary world filled with pagodas, exotic gardens and oriental landscapes.