Stockel Stamped Cylinder Desk

Cylinder desk on all sides in mahogany and mahogany veneer resting on four fluted tapered legs. The belt opens with three drawers separated into two compartments. The upper part presents a cylinder hidden by a sliding curtain. The latter suggests a sliding writing tablet also sheathed in leather, three small drawers and a large locker. The top is surmounted by a white marble set by an openwork gallery in gilded bronze. The desk is lined with gilded and chiseled bronze in the framing, in the decoration of the grooves, in the pull buttons, in the gallery, in the keyholes in the toe rings. Stamped Joseph Stockel and has the mark of the JME Louis XVI Period Usual restorations H. 100 x W. 74 x D. 50 cm This small cylinder desk is quite remarkable. Indeed, several points must be highlighted because it is a work of very high quality. Let's first mention the ingenuity of the mechanisms: the curtain, when it is open, makes the writing tablet slide at the same time. This amusing detail reveals the technical talent of whoever designed it. We must then mention the importance of the decorations. At a glance, this piece of furniture may seem simple, but it is its details that make it so original. The sculpture of a molding ending in a winding is unusual and marks the aesthetic signature of the cabinetmaker. The bronze frames on the cylinder, the belt and the sides highlight the mahogany which then becomes almost a painting. Finally, the grooves that place the piece of furniture in its time through this Louis XVI style vocabulary indicate that it is a desk with perfect finishes. Take a closer look, these grooves have discreet bronze threads to give them visual relief. Finally, note the charming character of this small office. Can be put in the middle of a room (it is all faces), it can be put in a bedroom or in a small living room. Its discretion and practicality (no paper or document is visible thanks to its quick-closing system) make this piece of furniture perfect for "small apartments". Its designer, Joseph Stockel, was received as a master in 1775. His work was often monopolized by the cabinetmaker Benneman, who claimed a certain number of chests of drawers executed by Stockel for the Count of Provence. His work is distinguished by deep grooves and extensive use of mahogany veneer, in an exclusively Louis XVI treatment. Two models identical to our roll-top desk went to Christie's, during the sales of October 4, 2006 and July 5, 2007 (however with different handles). Stockel is present in several museums. A bureau plat, executed for the Count of Provence, is kept at the National Assembly. The Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris also has a chest of drawers and a cabinet secretary by Joseph Stockel.