Cuban mahogany Cylindre desk

Louis XVI period, circa 1780
Dimensions: H. 117 cm x W. 128.5 cm x D. 66 cm

This cylinder desk is a Parisian work, carefully constructed using the finest materials. With this type of desk, the quality of the mahogany is essential. Here, the mahogany comes from Cuba, is blond and extremely fine-grained. The cabinetmaker took care to use wire mahogany for the frames, and slightly speckled mahogany for the panels. The uprights that form the legs are beautifully crafted in solid mahogany. Large sections were ordered for this desk to give the legs their perfect tapered, slightly domed shape. The large diameter of the uprights also allows for perfect, deep, proportionally tapered fluting.

This desk is veneered on all sides in mahogany, making it an “all-round” model that can be placed in the middle of a room. With its compact dimensions, this cylinder nonetheless boasts a substantial work surface and storage volume, augmented by two side pulls. Inside, the cylinder reveals numerous compartments and drawers, whose quality of workmanship is as meticulous as the exterior.

The bronze trim is simple but of the highest quality. The beautiful openwork gallery, tapered hooves ending in balls, beaded rings and various buttons are unusual and finely chased. The superb gilding of this trim enhances the mahogany.

The condition of this desk is excellent. A major restoration has been undertaken on this desk to restore its functionality and lustre; but it has retained all its original elements, its mahogany veneer, structure and drawer interiors, bronze trim and marble. Only the leathers and gilding of the bronzes are not original.



What is Mahogany....

To better understand what we mean by “mahogany”, here's some important information. It helps to understand that exotic woods from Africa and Asia have also been called “mahogany”. The following article describes these woods as having “very similar qualities”; these are physical qualities, as observation shows that aesthetic qualities have nothing to do with them. Mahogany from Cuba, whose export was banned in the 19th century, is indisputably the most beautiful of mahogany woods, followed by slightly redder mahogany from Santo Domingo. This “beauty” lies in the fineness of the grain (veining) and in the “honey” color, neither brown nor red.

“Mahogany refers to a group of tropical trees in the Meliaceae family, whose main characteristic is that their wood is pale pink to red, fragrant, durable and easy to work. The name mahogany refers in a restricted sense to American and West Indian trees of the genus Swietenia, firstly Swietenia mahagoni, then Swietenia macrophylla. It also refers to Cedrela odorata, which is cultivated in the same regions. But the name has been extended to other related genera whose wood has “very similar” qualities, notably the African mahogany of the Khaya genus (and sometimes the Entandrophragma genus), as well as Asian species of the Toona genus.”