A gilt-bronze-and porcelain-mounted satinwood, burrwood, mahogany and amaranth bonheur du jour in Louis XVI style, circa 1870, the porcelain possibly 18th century

the superstructure with a marble top and three-quarter gallery above three drawers mounted with porcelain panels decorated with sprays of summer flowers within a blue border, the frieze drawer with two shaped porcelain panels centred by a patera and fitted with a leather-lined slide and receptacles for writing implements, on square-cut cabriole legs with gilt-bronze mounts and sabots, the back veneered to form a centrepiece, with gilt-bronze banding cast with acanthus, foliage and flowers, terminating in gilt-bronze scrolled feet, with a paper label inscribed in pencil `Hamilton' and with a metal label 'Hamilton Place Collection KPG' , the reverse of the central porcelain plaque inscribed 2, 

Leopold de Rothschild (1945-1917), 5 Hamilton Place, and by descent to his son
Lionel de Rothschild (1882-1942), 18 Kensington Place Gardens, W8, sold Christie's, London, 4th July 1946, lot 148.

In overall good conserved condition. Some horizontal hairline cracks in the back panels and one in the right side lower panel which are not too noticeable and can easily be filled or left. Some very minor tarnishing to the gilt-bronze feet and some of the mounts which can easily be cleaned. Construction cracks at the joints where the legs join the side panels commensurate with age and can be left.There is very slight warping to the gilt-bronze banding on the top panel on both the right and left sides of the piece.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This charming lady’s desk is after a successful model created by Martin Carlin around 1770 in association with marchand-mercier Simon-Phillippe Poirier, who would have supplied the Sèvres porcelain flower plaques. A small group of these tables by Carlin are known, having belonged to important collectors such as Viscount Astor, Duke of Buccleuch, Moïse de Camondo or Edmond de Rothschild. This table was acquired by Edmond’s cousin Leopold de Rothschild, who lived at 5 Hamilton Place, former London townhouse of the 4^th Earl of Buckinghamshire. He and his wife Marie renovated the house in the Beaux-Arts style in vogue at the time and this desk would fit perfectly in the Goût Rothschild.