Her Majesty’s Furniture: A Neoclassical French Secretaire, 1815

Secretaire
Bernard Molitor, 1815
Oak, mahogany, ebony, lacquer,
gilt bronze, and marble.
Purchased by George IV, 1817.
One of a pair.
The Royal Collection

King George IV, like his mother, Queen Charlotte, had very particular tastes and a desire to own the finest possible objects and furnishings. Also like his mother, George IV, had an affinity for the designs of French artists and craftsmen. So, it’s no wonder that these magnificent secretaire by Bernard Molitor appealed to the young Prince Regent who was handling the empire while his father, King George III, was “indisposed” due to—shall we say—mental strain.


Molitor was known throughout France for his unyielding Neoclassical style furniture. His pieces were very highly regarded and his reputation led him to furnish the most important homes in France during a forty year period. This secretaire by Molitor of oak, mahogany, ebony, lacquer, gilt bronze, and marble is actually one of a matching pair which were purchased by the Prince Regent’s Clerk/Comptroller of the Kitchen and all-around chum/personal shopper, Jean-Baptiste Watier. George IV relied on Watier to make many purchases and trusted the man’s taste. These were among the items that George IV sent to his funhouse/palace, the Royal Pavilion at Brighton.

Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
via The Royal Collection Trust
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Her Majesty’s Furniture: A Secretaire Cabinet, 1774

Secretaire
John Bradburn, 1774
The Royal Collection

This beautiful secretaire made of mahogany, mirrored glass and gilt bronze was made in 1774 for Charlotte, the Princess Royal, by John Bradburn, a student of William Vile who was the cabinet-maker of the Great Wardrobe in 1764.


This piece of furniture was created for purely practical reasons and isn’t quite as showy as other pieces which grace the palatial rooms of the Royal residences. It’s important to note that the Princess Royal was only eight at the time this cabinet was made. It was a piece that she was meant to grow into, and she did. This sturdy secretaire followed her throughout her life.

Her Majesty’s Furniture: A Neoclassical French Secretaire, 1815

Secretaire
Bernard Molitor, 1815
Oak, mahogany, ebony, lacquer,
gilt bronze, and marble.
Purchased by George IV, 1817.
One of a pair.
The Royal Collection

King George IV, like his mother, Queen Charlotte, had very particular tastes and a desire to own the finest possible objects and furnishings. Also like his mother, George IV, had an affinity for the designs of French artists and craftsmen. So, it’s no wonder that these magnificent secretaire by Bernard Molitor appealed to the young Prince Regent who was handling the empire while his father, King George III, was “indisposed” due to—shall we say—mental strain.


Molitor was known throughout France for his unyielding Neoclassical style furniture. His pieces were very highly regarded and his reputation led him to furnish the most important homes in France during a forty year period. This secretaire by Molitor of oak, mahogany, ebony, lacquer, gilt bronze, and marble is actually one of a matching pair which were purchased by the Prince Regent’s Clerk/Comptroller of the Kitchen and all-around chum/personal shopper, Jean-Baptiste Watier. George IV relied on Watier to make many purchases and trusted the man’s taste. These were among the items that George IV sent to his funhouse/palace, the Royal Pavilion at Brighton.

Object of the Day: A Queen Anne Style Secretaire

From the graceful curves of its cabriole legs to the undulation of its bowed front, this secretaire represents the delicacy of the Queen Anne Style. A secretaire (or secretary) is a desk that is comprised of a chest of drawers upon which sits a cabinet with a sloped, hinged writing surface. Sometimes a secretaire will also be capped by a bookcase or glass-front cabinet.

This particular secretaire is English in origin, dating to about 1880. It’s very solidly constructed. The design is simple, allowing the architecture of the piece to do the talking. A subtle inlay of red wood and Mother-of-Pearl is the only adornment on the front.

Opening the cabinet further reveals the quality of the craftsmanship. Neatly assembled cubbies and pigeon holes would have helped to organize the owner of this desk. A piece such as this would have graced the parlor’s of many a fine home. It appeals to the Victorian love of beauty as well as their love of order.