Satinwood Bonheur du Jour. circa 1780

A late 18th century satinwood Bonheur du Jour. George III period, circa 1780.

A most attractive and quite delicate cabinet piece, veneered throughout with satinwood and cross banded in rosewood with ebony and box line stringing.

The single shelf upper section with shaped sides over two cupboards. One of the cupboards is fitted with an arrangement of drawers and flanking arched recess.

The lower section with a hinged table top opening to reveal a leathered writing surface, over a single shallow drawer to the frieze. R

aised on four square and tapering legs with brass toe caps and leather castors, united by a lower concave shaped shelf.

The bonheur du jour is fully veneered on the back in satinwood and retains its original handles.

A bonheur du jour (from the French, bonheur-du-jour, meaning "daytime delight") is a type of lady's writing desk.

It was introduced in Paris by one of the interior decorators and purveyors of fashionable novelties called marchands-merciers about 1760. It quickly became intensely fashionable not only in France but in 18th Century England.

The bonheur du jour is always very light and graceful, and with a decorated back, since it often did not stand against the wall.

This object incorporates old ivory and has been registered with Defra

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This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

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