The varnish had worn away and the bronze had tarnished on this small Napoleon III slant top desk called a “lady’s desk”. Missing bits are visible in the star inlays of brass and mother-of-pearl.
The blackened pear wood veneer was cracked on the curved back.
The inner part has kept its original, rather pretty blue velvet crimped on the edges .
I removed and cleaned the bronze to bring the gilding out again.
After restoring the desk, I fine sanded it and re-tinted the black. It was necessary to revarnish it in its entirety, including the inner part with its rosewood and bois de rose veneer. A befitting finish was needed for a such finely executed piece of furniture as this one; just look at the flap’s hinges and the finely engraved brass lock.
