French Sèvres style porcelain and ormolu mounted bonheur du jour

This spectacular writing desk, also known as a bonheur du jour was made in 19^th century France. First introduced in France around 1760, a bonheur du jour is a type of a lady’s writing desk.

A central cabinet, surrounded by four drawers, two on each side adorn the top of this writing desk. The cabinet features a hinged, lockable door opening to reveal a storage compartment with one shelf. Beautiful parquetry detailing embellishes the surfaces of this furniture piece.

The cabinet door as well as drawer fronts are decorated with Sevres style porcelain plaques and intricately cast ormolu mounts. The plaques depict vibrant floral compositions and Rococo style genre scenes. The first plaque, on the cabinet door, depicts a gentleman playing for a lady while the second plaque portrays a young man leaning towards a sleeping female figure. Both scenes are set in a woodland, forming romantic imagery.  All compositions are painted on white ground, each plaque framed in a gilt border surrounded by a bright turquoise frame. Further ormolu framing surrounds the porcelain decoration.

Each of the four cabriole legs on which the piece stands terminate with exquisite ormolu mounts, similar in design to the decoration above.

Traditionally, a bonheur du jour was found in a lady’s private bedroom where one could store private belongings, write correspondence as well as enjoy a moment of solitude and this stunning desk would make an outstanding addition to the appropriate interior space.