Luxurious Writing Desk

The unknown person who commissioned this elaborately decorated writing desk very likely came from aristocratic circles. In the early 18th century there were very few cabinet makers in southern Germany who had mastery of the complicated decoration of Boulle marquetry. Named after its "inventor" André-Charles Boulle (1642-1732), it is distinguished by a combination of veneers using metal as well as tortoiseshell, mother of pearl and other materials. This produces a strong contrast of materials and colours.