Secretary

Secretary in arbalète, Regency to early Louis XV transition style. This secretary features an elegant arched shape known as "arbalète" or "tomb, " characteristic of the transition between the Regency period and the early Louis XV style. It rests on short, curved legs and is distinguished by a flowing silhouette that fully anticipates the Rococo style. The structure is made of wood (probably oak or softwood for the framework), entirely covered with a veneer of wood with burr or figured decoration, valued for the richness of its grain. The decoration is enhanced with Rococo-style bronze mounts (keyholes, handles, and possibly feet), highlighting the refinement of the whole. It is topped with a marble slab, an element that is both decorative and functional, typical of quality productions. This type of furniture, intended for bourgeois or aristocratic interiors, served both as storage and as a piece of representation.