An antique Louis XIV style desk. The desk is made of wood covered with ebony veneer and black lacquer. The tabletop and base are decorated with marquetry, imitating mosaic panels with figurative and floral motifs. The desk has an X-shaped crossbar, and a drawer is located on the side. Italy, 1860-1870s.

The extravagance of the Louis XIV style, rarely seen today, is found in its massive furniture. It became very popular at the court of Anne of Austria and was later brought to England by Charles II. The richness and beauty of this type of furniture inspired a taste for carved and gilded wood, as few people could afford it. As a result, even in more modest homes, the frames and bases of armchairs, sofas, mirrors, tables, and consoles were richly carved and gilded. Using matte and polished gold, artisans decorated furniture with motifs such as scrolls, guilloches, heavy foliage, shells, and flowers. These were arranged in festoons, garlands, bouquets, and sheaves.