oak carcase, veneered with tulipwood, sycamore, and amaranth; soft-paste porcelain plaques; gilt bronze mounts and writing accessories; glass inkwell; velvet writing surface; silk and gold brocade drawer linings.

Description

The main drawers contain fittings for ink and sand, with main compartments fitted with hinged writing surface. The center plaque on the desk-top has a plum in the lower right of the image.

Credit

The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. The Arabella D. Huntington Memorial Art Collection.

Department

European Art

Find out more

View in the Art Museum catalog(Opens in new tab)

Label text

Martin Carlin, who emigrated from Germany to Paris, was one of the pre-eminent furniture makers of the second half of the 18th century. These small writing desks were supplied by the dealer Poirier, for whom Martin Carlin seems to have worked almost exclusively. Through Poirier, his furniture was sold to Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, Madame du Barry and many members of the court. The main drawers of these desks contain fittings for ink and sand, with main compartments fitted with hinged writing surfaces.

Writing desk

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