Fall-front secretary

Maker Martin Carlin (French, ca. 1739 - 1785)

Additional Title(s)

Secrétaire à abattant

ClassificationsDECORATIVE ARTS

Dateca. 1775

Mediumoak carcase veneered with marquetry of tulipwood, sycamore, purplewood edge banding, and ebony and holly stringing; gilt bronze mounts; white Carrara marble tops

Dimensions52 3/8 x 58 5/8 x 26 in. (133 x 148.9 x 66 cm.)

SignedStamped twice on the back and twice beneath the marble slab: M·CARLIN and JME. Paper label in the top frieze drawer: One Louis XVI secretaire stamped Carlin, annotated in pencil on top left corner, 2264.

MarkingsMark stamped twice on the back near the top and stamped twice at the front beneath the marble slab: 'M. CARLIN JME'.

Credit LineThe Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens

Status

Not on view

Label TextCabinet-maker Carlin was known for sophisticated pieces of furniture mounted with porcelain plaques or lacquer panels, or, as here, decorated with marquetry of exotic woods. This secrétaire is in the neoclassical style, which looked to the art of ancient Rome for inspiration. The foliate swags and trellises of the marquetry are based on published drawings of some of the material then recently excavated from the archeological sites of Herculaneum and Pompeii.

Object number11.32