Louis XV dressing table writing desk in cubic marquetry

Lovely dressing table / writing desk in marquetry of cubes in perspective, from the Transition period.
It rests on four high, finely curved legs with edges underlined by a rosewood marquetry ring.
The top formed by three flaps reveals a mirror in the center and two side compartments (of greater depth on the left which explains the absence of a drawer on this side)
It also opens on the front with a large drawer and a leather-trimmed writing pull.
The back of the flaps is in walnut treated using the fern curling technique.
The sides are in rosewood, and treated using the butterfly wing crimping technique.
The tops and the front have a magnificent geometric decoration in marquetry of small cubes without a trompe-l'oeil bottom, giving pride of place to rosewood and ''tobacco-tinted'' maple.
These cubes are rather what we call "straight cobblestones" (two square faces and six rectangular faces)
Rare are the cabinetmakers who have used this straight cobblestone marquetry. We can nevertheless cite a secretary stamped by Daniel Deloose (Master in 1767), presenting the same cobblestone marquetry and referenced on page 241 (French furniture in the 18th century – Pierre Kjellberg)
More generally, bottomless cubes are also called ''Oeben's cubes''. This comes from Jean François Oeben who made this curling his specialty, much appreciated during the 18th century. (J. F Oeben was cabinetmaker to the king from 1761 to 1763)
Despite the absence of a stamp, this lovely dressing table/writing desk, beautifully crafted, is certainly the work of a reputable Parisian cabinetmaker.

Dimensions
W. 80 cm x D. 46 cm x H. 73 cm

Parisian work
In a perfect state
18th century

In the second half of the 18th century, ''tobacco-tinted'' maple was frequently used by cabinetmakers to make skilful marquetry of cubes in perspective. If today the color of this ''tinted tobacco'' wood is similar to that of walnut due to oxidation, the original color was a silvery grey. In old descriptions of furniture, the term ''grey satin wood'' or ''silver gray'' is thus evoked.
To find out more: The essence of wood - Manual of macroscopic identification of the woods of French furniture, XVI°-XX°, Heritage edition, 2020