Flat Desk by Antoine Robert Gaudreaus

Exceptional flat desk in amaranth resting on four arched legs and opening in a belt with three lockable drawers. The desk is topped with a leather-covered top. The desk frame is in fir and the drawers are in walnut and oak. The desk is decorated with gilded bronzes (using the "gold-colored varnish" technique) and chiseled.
Attributed to Antoine-Robert Gaudreaus
Stamped twice NB (probably for Nicolas Berthelmy)
Louis XV period, circa 1745)
Usual restorations, modern leather, later sabots
H. 78 x W. 163 x D. 78 cm

We have described the desk in our study as "exceptional", but what are the reasons for this? In addition to its obvious quality of production and aesthetics, the person who made it and the history of the desk are determining factors in the value and interest of the work in our study. Indeed, how can one not appreciate this desk without knowing its twin? Thus, a very similar flat desk was delivered in 1745 to Fontainebleau for the Dauphin, more precisely for his study. Now kept at the Palace of Versailles (depot of the Mobilier National), it was part of a delivery of 18 other pieces of furniture by the famous cabinetmaker Antoine Robert Gaudreaus. The latter was a cabinetmaker for the Garde Meuble de la Couronne and therefore worked for the greatest patrons of his time: the king, the queen, the Dauphine, Mesdames, Madame de Pompadour, etc. Furthermore, it was never stamped, for several reasons that we will develop later. In this way, the certain attribution of our desk to a cabinetmaker of his level to whom we know few certified works of his hand is more than appreciable. To understand our desk, we must therefore study the Dauphin's desk.

The comparison with the Dauphin's desk:

The desk exhibited at the Château de Versailles has some technical similarities and differences. The frame is also made of fir like many frames of this period. On the other hand, if the marquetry of our desk is in amaranth, that of the Dauphin is in violet wood. However, both offer a so-called diamond point marquetry very dear to Gaudreaus.

As for the bronzes, this desk model has been embellished with rich compositions in gilded bronze that are particularly original and important. Whether it is the ingot mold, the other side handles, the two impressive dragon appliques on the sides, the four staple crooks, the two pieces of furniture are part of the same decor. Conversely, the four cartouches on the corners of the top, the four falls, the two central lock entries, the other sabots are different. It is interesting to focus mainly on the bronzes on the sides with dragon decoration. They are extravagant in their theme and add character to the piece of furniture. They were already used by Gaudreaus on the apron of a chest of drawers kept at the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg (former Shuvalov collection). As for the clasps, Daniel Alcouffe considers them "archaic" in relation to the general dating of the desk: he then compares them to those of the desk of Gaspard Moïse de Fontanieu, delivered in 1731 by Gaudreaus to Versailles (now kept at the Mobilier National).
Finally, the dimensions and general shape are somewhat different (the Fontainebleau desk: H. 79 x W. 145 x D. 77 cm). Ours is therefore larger and has a different curve outline. An interesting detail is added to the list of elements that can confirm the attribution to Antoine Robert Gaudreaus visible on both desks. It is a pointed recess under the lower line of the belt. This is an observation also made on the sloping secretary of Marie Leczinska in Marly, on the chest of drawers in the Mesdames' dining room in Versailles (this recess is seen from 1733 in her work).

The Dauphin's desk and the documents relating to its delivery give us valuable information for the dating of our desk. If the Dauphin's desk was delivered to the Garde Meuble on August 19, 1745 (with 18 other pieces of furniture, after the latter's marriage), our desk can only belong to these years. In addition, we know that Gaudreaus delivered at least 108 pieces of furniture in 1745 (missing sheets in the Journal). Furthermore, the bronzes of the Dauphin's desk are stamped with the crowned C then in force between March 1745 and January 1749. Gaudreaus died in 1746, which leaves little room for a broader dating and makes our piece of furniture one of the artist's last works.

We are very proud to present this desk which had the chance to be reproduced in two books for the study of the office of the Mobilier National: "Antoine Robert Gaudreaus, cabinetmaker under Louis XV", (Daniel Alcouffe, Elisabeth Grall, Jean Perfettini, Editions Faton, 2021, file pages 294 to 299) and "The Palace of Versailles tells the story of the Mobilier National" (Jean-Ja

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