Writing table (bureau plat)

ca. 1745–50

Not on view

Enormously productive, Bernard II van Risenburgh, the maker of this important writing table was the leading cabinetmaker during Louis XV’s reign. He was one of the most important suppliers of furniture to the Crown. His work shows not only confidence and elegance but generally also a beautiful balance between the gilt-bronze mounts and the surface decoration. He signed his pieces with his initials: B.V.R.B.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

Title: Writing table (bureau plat)
Maker: Bernard II van Risenburgh (ca. 1696–ca. 1767)
Date: ca. 1745–50
Culture: French
Medium: Veneered on oak with ebony; mounts of chased and gilded bronze; top inlaid with later panels of black morocco and gilt-tooled leather
Dimensions: confirmed: 31 1/2 × 71 7/8 × 36 in. (80 × 182.6 × 91.4 cm)
Classification: Woodwork-Furniture
Credit Line: Bequest of Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, 2019
Object Number: 2019.283.5
Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

More Artwork

By Bernard II van Risenburgh

In the same medium

From the same time and place

Folding card table (table de jeu brisée en angle), Bernard II van Risenburgh, Oak veneered with tulipwood, purplewood, kingwood, satiné wood, walnut; gilt bronze; modern silk velvet, French, Paris — Folding card table (table de jeu brisée en angle)
Attributed to Bernard II van Risenburgh
ca. 1755–65

Writing table (table à écrire), Bernard II van Risenburgh, Oak veneered with tulipwood, kingwood, amaranth, mahogany, ebony, mother-of-pearl, stained horn; gilt-bronze mounts; modern velvet, French, Paris — Writing table (table à écrire)
Bernard II van Risenburgh
ca. 1755

Corner cabinet (encoignure) (one of a pair), Bernard II van Risenburgh, Oak veneered with ebony and Coromandel lacquer, cherry wood, and purplewood; gilt-bronze mounts; brocatelle marble top, French, Paris — Corner cabinet (encoignure) (one of a pair)
Bernard II van Risenburgh
ca. 1745–49

George Washington, Probably porcelain, French — George Washington
French
1776–1800

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.