Writing table that belonged to Louis XV designed by the ébéniste Jean-Henri Riesener for the Petit Trianon at Versailles in 1771, estimate €150,000-200,000 at Pescheteau-Badin.
Designed by the ébéniste Jean-Henri Riesener for the Petit Trianon at Versailles in 1771, the table was used during the king’s final years spent in the company of Madame du Barry at the Petit Trianon.
Situated on the first floor in the coffee room, it was set into the wainscoting behind which was a small staircase leading to du Barry’s apartments which the king could thus access discreetly.
During Marie-Antoinette’s later transformations of the Petit Trianon the table joined the Garde Meuble de la Couronne (The royal furniture repository) where it was restored by Guillame Benneman in 1788.
The 3ft 2in (98cm) wide table, in sycamore and satinwood, has a trelliswork marquetry top and a drawer decorated to the front with a scene of child astronomers that opens to reveal a writing tablet. The underside is inscribed in ink No2605. It will be offered with an estimate of €150,000-200,000 in the auction house’s Vente Classique at Drouot.
