Napoleon III ‘Sevres’ Porcelain and Ormolu-Mounted Bureau De Dame, circa 1860

With stepped rectangular superstructure with three shaped rectangular ochre and red marble tops, above a central panel inset with plaque depicting a court scene within ormolu-moulded frame flanked by ormolu putti holding cornucopia and cushion moulded frieze applied with foliate swage above the breakfront frieze centering a beaded panel with foliate Vitruvian scrolls flanked by plaques allegorical of ‘Autumn’ and ‘Spring’ and rounded ends, the side frieze with similar plaques of ‘Winter’ and ‘Summer’, above a central paneled door inset with oval plaque within foliate ribbon-tied ormolu border backed by inlaid lattice pattern centering flower-heads within ormolu leaf-tip moulded frame and inlaid chevron paneled border, flanked by similarly inlaid doors and mounted at the angles with classically draped female caryatids holding blossoming swags, the sides with similarly inlaid panels over ormolu leaf-tip moulded plinth, the base with shaped rectangular breakfront top with ormolu-moulded edge and conforming inlaid panel with similarly inlaid latticework within foliate inlaid border, above a shaped frieze drawer with central inset porcelain plaques depicting children flanked by ormolu foliate scroll brackets and porcelain panels enclosing secretary drawer with central slide inset with green velvet panel flanked by similarly and mounted at the angels with scantily clad putti on square tapering paneled legs on square foliate ormolu CAP feet mounted at the cuff with grotesque masks.