“BERCE DES PRES” LADIES DESK, CIRCA 1900
Variation of “Les Ombellules” desk exhibited at the Exposition Universelle of 1900
Exotic marquetry inlaid wood, with botanical decor
With its key in gilt bronze
Signed GALLE
Bearing a paper label from the 1950/1960s on which can be read “N°7399 – Salle des Ventes – Santé
Frères et Cie – Pau » with the lot number, its description, the name of the buyer and the price
(the company Santé Frères et Cie put an end to its public sales in 1970)
157 cm. high ; 77 cm. wide ; 55 cm. deep
Exhibition
Exposition Universelle, Paris 1900. A design, which can be compared to our desk, titled “Les Ombellules” by Emile Gallé himself in a publication at the time, was shown by the artist during the event.
Musée d’Orsay, Paris. A “Les Ombellules” desk, comparable to ours, is in the collection of the Musée d’Orsay (inventory OAO 1467 coming from the Rispal donation)
Provenance
This desk was acquired by the former owner at a public auction in the 1950/1960s from the Salle des Ventes Santé Frères et Cie, rue Emile Garet in Pau. This company, which started out with public auction sales, simultaneously as a transporter, right after the post-war years, enrolled a notary or a court bailiff, but lost the office in 1970 when the French government appointed a ministerial officer as an auctioneer in Pau.
