Writing box

Attributed to Nicolas-Denis Derome French

ca. 1783

Not on view

Leather boxes and trunks served in 18th century France for the storage and safekeeping of a variety of personal belongings when the court or aristocratic families moved from residence to residence. Not many of these boxes have been preserved in as pristine a condition as this writing box which may have been made on the occasion of the 1783 wedding of Adélaïde Charlotte de Broglie and Nicolas Gabriel Emé de Marcieu. Based on similarities of its decoration to book bindings of the period, particularly the bindings “à la dentelle” with lace-like ornament by Nicolas-Denis Derome (1731–1790), the writing box has been attributed to his workshop. Nicolas-Denis Derome was the most famous member of an important dynasty of Parisian bookbinders. The Musée du Louvre has a Morocco-leather petit necessaire (etui) signed by Charles Derome, the brother of Nicolas-Denis, which shows that the Derome family’s activities were not limited to bookbinding alone.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

Title: Writing box
Maker: Attributed to Nicolas-Denis Derome (French, 1731–1790)
Date: ca. 1783
Culture: French
Medium: Gilt-tooled red morocco leather; pale green silk lining with gold braid
Dimensions: Confirmed: 2 9/16 × 15 1/2 × 8 5/16 in., 35.3oz. (6.5 × 39.4 × 21.1 cm, 1000.851g)
Classifications: Natural Substances-Leatherwork, Woodwork-Furniture
Credit Line: Bequest of Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, 2019
Object Number: 2019.283.123
Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

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Briefcase (portefeuille or porte documents), Nicolas-Denis Derome French, Gilt-tooled red morocco leather, gilt bronze and metal locking mechanism; lined with blue silk, French — Briefcase (portefeuille or porte documents)
Nicolas-Denis Derome
third quarter of 18th century

Armchair (Fauteuil à la reine) for Louise-Élisabeth of Parma, Nicolas-Quinibert Foliot, Carved and gilded oak; original silk-velvet upholstery and gold trim, French, Paris and Italian, Parma — Armchair (Fauteuil à la reine) for Louise-Élisabeth of Parma
Nicolas-Quinibert Foliot
Pierre Contant d'Ivry
ca. 1749

Armchair (fauteuil) from Louis XVI's Salon des Jeux at Saint Cloud, Georges Jacob French, Carved and gilded walnut; gold brocaded silk (not original), French, Paris — Armchair (fauteuil) from Louis XVI's Salon des Jeux at Saint Cloud
Georges Jacob
Louis-François Chatard
1788

Drop-front secretary (secrétaire à abattant or secrétaire en armoire), Guillaume Benneman, Oak veneered with tulipwood, kingwood, holly partly stained green, ebony, and mahogany; brèche d'Alep marble (not original); modern leather; gilt-bronze mounts, French, Paris — Drop-front secretary (secrétaire à abattant or secrétaire en armoire)
Multiple artists/makers
1786–87

Writing table (bureau plat), Gilles Joubert French, Lacquered oak, gilt-bronze mounts, lined with modern leather, French, Paris — Writing table (bureau plat)
Gilles Joubert
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