Small Louis XV Writing Cabinet from Bon Durand, 1765

Excellent and rare delicate writing furniture from the transitional period from Louis XV to Louis XVI, made in Paris by the important ebenist Bon Durand (master from 1761) around 1765: rectangular corpus with flattened edges standing on four curved legs, opening with two doors and revealing two adjustable rush shelves inside. Above the doors there is a pull-out writing tablet covered with dark green leather. The two doors as well as the sides of the cabinet are decorated with a marquetry of matching curved reserves framing a “marqueterie en ailes de papillons”. The upper top panel of the furniture repeats this decorative principle. On the back, the delicate cabinet bears the stamp “BON DURAND” as well as the stamp of the Paris Jurande “JME”. The excellently chased and gilded bronze fittings show different stylistic elements typical for this period: while the sabot of the legs and the corner cartouches are still indebted to the Louis XV, the keyhole surrounds already show the orientation towards a classicist conception in the decorative arts typical for the Louis XVI. Bon Durand (master 1761) founded his workshop in the Rue de Charenton, where he worked from 1761 until the outbreak of the French Revolution. His main clients were important colleagues such as the ebenists Pierre Migeon and Denis Genty, and tapestry makers such as Presle and Bonnemain. Bon Durand seems to have been very productive, as his stamp can be found on many pieces of furniture in the Louis XV, Transition and Louis XVI styles, especially on chests of drawers, secretaries, bureau plats, display cases and bibliothèques. Bon Durand used mainly mahogany, rosewood and royal wood for his furniture, which was always of high quality, and their marquetry, some with floral elements. Furniture by Bon Durand is part of the collections of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs of Lyon, the Waddesdon Manor in London and the Mobilier National in Paris, among others.