Porcelain and ormolu mounted parquetry bonheur du jour by Ross

This beautiful bonheur du jour, a type of desk popular among ladies in high society France, particular during the time of Louis XVI, was made by the leading and renowned English maker Donald Ross (1830-1916) around the time of the late nineteenth century. Although he rarely ever signed his pieces, they are all instinctly recognisable for their high quality and his characteristic parquetry-trellis decoration that adorns large sections of his works.

Translating roughly as 'daytime delight,' desks like these are largely executed in a Neoclassical Louis XVI style, as shown here, although the present example showcases Ross's unique working practices and plaques of Sèvres style porcelain, that help accentuate its light and graceful qualities. The dot trellis parquetry inlay is what makes it a Ross, and examples of this work are in the V&A museum in London. 

The piece consists of a central door which is mounted with a Sèvres style porcelain plaque, and is flanked with a trio of drawers to each side, just above the main desk space. It is further embellished with exquisite ormolu mounts.