Secrétaire

The upright secrétaire began to be a fashionable form around the mid-1700s, when letter writing became a popular pastime. The marchands-merciers (art dealers) quickly responded to this demand, providing many types of small tables or desks with interiors fitted for storing writing tools. The upright secrétaire, or secrétaire à abattant, has its front lower to form a writing surface, revealing drawers and pigeonholes.This form of decoration, with porcelain plaques mounted onto the wood, began around 1760 and grew rapidly in prominence within ten years. The marchands-merciers most frequently employed the ébéniste (furniture maker) Martin Carlin to mount porcelain plaques on furniture; his name became synonymous with this style. One of these dealers likely commissioned this piece, perhaps for a specific client. In addition to the porcelain plaques, the elegant gilt bronze decorative elements in the form of drapery swags and hanging oak branches also typify Carlin's work.