Blaise & ThÉodore Millet 1853-1918 A Louis XV revival gilt-bronze mounted kingwood and trellis parquetry desk Paris, circa 1880

the upper structure surmounted by an enfant guerrier resting on a lion pelt and fitted with five drawers and a pair of acanthus cast twin-light candelabras, the desk with a sliding gilt-tooled red leather writing surface above three frieze drawers, the lockplate of the middle frieze drawer engraved MILLET PARIS.

Overall in good condition. The bronzes are well cast and chased. The desk is sturdy. There are the usual minor scratches to laser writing surface. The carcass with the usual minor dents, scratches and nicks consistent with age and use. There is a rather large area of veneer replacements to the back of the desk, which is visible since the color is dark. Some veneer repair to legs.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The gilt-bronze mount decoration on the present lot is undoubtedly strongly influenced, if not directly created, by the celebrated sculptor and designer Léon Messagé. The collaboration of Millet and Messagé was dicussed in the footnote of a vitrine which sold in this room, October 26, 2006, lot 166, $ 228,000. Léon Messagé, whose book of designs, Cahier des Dessins et Croquis Style Louis XV totaling thirty-six drawings for furniture, bronzes doré and silver, published in 1890 from his address at 40 rue Sedaine near the Faubourg St. Antoine, was most probably acting as a freelance artist collaborating closely with various different ébénistes Parisiens such as the celebrated cabinetmakers Zwiener, Roux et Brunet and Linke. His creative genius interpreted the Louis XV style of the mid-eighteenth century in a vigorous manner, cleverly adopting the asymmetric rocaille style popularized in the 1720s by Parisian designers such as Juste Aurèle Meissonier (1695-1750), as well as the classicism of the Louis XVI style. This was common enough practice under the Second Empire and in the latter years of the 19th century alongside contemporaries such as Beurdeley, Charles Wincklesen, Dasson and Sormani. After making sketches, Messagé made a three-dimensional model of wax or plaster of the piece for client approval on a scale one-fifth the intended size of the finished piece. From the wax model a life-sized model in wood was made to ensure a precise fit of the bronze mounts. Records show that Messagé designed all the important items for Linke's booth at the Paris 1900 Exposition Universelle (please see footnote of lot 163). The periodical review Art & Curiosité records that Message's projects were "nés sous le crayon se formèrent d'un jet plus rapide en la noble matière du bronze, ciselé d'une main sûre" (born from the pen, [the projects] were rapidly and accurately rendered into bronze, [and] chiseled by a firm hand) (October, 1904, p. 166). Maison Millet was established by Théodore Millet in 1853, and operated until 1902 from premises at 11, Rue Jacques-Coeur, Paris before relocating to 23, Boulevard Beaumarchais. Maison Millet was a highly regarded furniture firm that was described as producing 'meuble et bronze d'art, genre ancien et moderne.' The company won several awards in the series of exhibitions in London and Paris, such as the gold medal in the 1889 Paris Exposition Universelle, a Grand Prix in 1900 and three further diplomes d'honneur and four médailles d'or for the furniture they produced. The firm specialized in the Louis XV and XVI styles, though they were acclaimed by their contemporaries for working in their own modern style. In March 1902, the firm was authorized by the Palais de Versailles to replicate Marie-Antoinette's celebrated Grand cabinet à bijoux. An auction was held in 1906 clearing the remaining stock and the firm finally ceased trading in 1918. Maison Millet was an active client of François Linke.