Writing Desk with Raised Back

Jean-Henri Riesener, c. 1775

This type of writing desk, also known as a bonheurdu-jour (French: ‘happiness of the day’), was greatly favoured by women in the 18th century. Behind the tambour-fronted doors there is ample space for storing letters, papers, money, jewellery, and other valuables.<br>

  • Artwork typefurniture, table, bonheur-du-jour
  • Object numberBK-16667
  • Dimensionsheight 110 cm x width 99 cm x depth 48.5 cm, width 95 cm x depth 44.5 cm
  • Physical characteristicseikenhout, belijmd met esdoornhout en andere houtsoorten, verguld brons, brèche tarentaise marmer

Identification

  • Title(s)

    Writing Desk with Raised Back

  • Object type

  • Object number

    BK-16667

  • Description

    Tafel met opzet versierd met marqueterie in meerdere houtsoorten op eikenhouten kern en met verguld brons. De voorpoten zijn overhoeks geplaatst. Het verbindingsblad tussen de poten, de voorregel, het dekblad en opzetstuk zijn, binnen drie velden, in het midden versierd met rozentakken en aan weerszijden met rozetten en ruiten. Alleen het middenpaneel van het opzetstuk met twee jalouziedeuren vertoont ondermeer een lier, boeken en inktkoker. Marmeren blad met galerij; vele verguld bronzen omlijstingen.

  • Inscriptions / marks

    • signature: ‘J.H.RIESENER’
    • inscription: ‘251’

Creation

  • Creation

    furniture maker (person): Jean-Henri Riesener, France

  • Dating

    c. 1775

  • Search further with

Material and technique

  • Physical description

    eikenhout, belijmd met esdoornhout en andere houtsoorten, verguld brons, brèche tarentaise marmer

  • Dimensions

    • height 110 cm x width 99 cm x depth 48.5 cm
    • width 95 cm x depth 44.5 cm

This work is about

  • Subject

Acquisition and rights

  • Copyright

    Public domain

  • Provenance

    …; collection Maximilian Benedikt Hayum Freiherr von Goldschmidt-Rothschild (1843-1940), Frankfurt am Main, 1927, 1931;{Feulner 1927, p. 477; Feulner 1931a, pp. 490-491.} …; collection Dr Fritz Mannheimer (1890-1939), Amsterdam and Paris, 1936;{Von Falke 1936, p. 338, no. Mo.57.} purchased from his estate, en bloc, by the Dienststelle Mühlmann, The Hague, for Adolf Hitler's Führermuseum, Linz, 1940;{Korthals Altes 1974, pp. 21-22.} war recuperation, SNK, 1945;{HNA, SNK Archive, 2.08.42, inv. no. 548.} on loan, with 1,702 other objects, from the DRVK to the museum, 1952;{Note RMA.} transferred to the museum, 1960

  • Remarks

    Please note that this provenance was formulated with a special focus on provenance research for the years 1933-45 and could therefore be incomplete. There may be more (mostly earlier) provenance information known in the museum. In case this item has an uncertain or incomplete provenance for the years 1933-45, the Rijksmuseum welcomes information and assistance in the investigation and clarification of the provenance of all works during that era.

Documentation

  • Adolf Feulner, 'Französische Möbel in Deutschland', Pantheon 8 (1931), p. 490-491, afb.

Persistent URL

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  • Writing Desk with Raised Back
  • Writing Desk with Raised Back
  • Writing Desk with Raised Back
  • Writing Desk with Raised Back
  • Writing Desk with Raised Back
  • Writing Desk with Raised Back