Louis XV Marquetry Cylinder Desk — Refinishing & Repair

This Louis XV marquetry cylinder desk, a masterwork of 18th century French cabinetmaking, arrived at our workshop requiring refinishing and structural repair. The desk’s elaborate floral marquetry panels, curved cylinder lid, and bronze ormolu mounts represent the pinnacle of the Rococo furniture tradition.

Our conservators addressed structural issues in the desk’s complex mechanism, ensuring the cylinder rolls smoothly on its original track. The marquetry surfaces — composed of numerous exotic wood veneers arranged in intricate floral patterns — were carefully cleaned, with lifted or damaged pieces re-adhered or replaced with matching materials.

The refinishing process used traditional French polishing techniques to restore the marquetry’s depth and vibrancy, allowing each wood species to display its natural colour and figure. This Louis XV cylinder desk now presents the technical brilliance and decorative exuberance that define the finest French ébénisterie.