Louis XVI period secretary desk in mahogany and gilt bronze

A secretary desk from the late reign of Louis XVI, featuring five drawers and two drop fronts concealing storage compartments. The piece is crafted from pommele mahogany with an oak structure and adorned with gilded brass, topped with a green marble slab. The drop front is supported by a drawer, revealing what could be a cabinet of curiosities or storage for rolled documents or books, likely similar to the upper compartments. This commissioned piece comes from the family of the Dukes of La Rochefoucauld and is attributed to the cabinetmaker Etienne Avril (1748–1791). Avril was granted master status in 1774 and is known for having created furniture for the Court of Versailles, notably for Queen Marie-Antoinette’s apartments at the Château de Saint-Cloud. His furniture is characterized by strict, architectural lines and large, unadorned surfaces, typical of the late Louis XVI style. His works are often crafted in mahogany, as is the case with this secretary desk. Some of his pieces are now housed in the Château de Fontainebleau, the Marmottan Museum in Paris, and the Museum of Decorative Arts in Lyon.