Antique French Kingwood Bonheur du Jour Cabinet with Sèvres Porcelain Plaques and Ormolu Mounts - Hawkins Antiques
Close Up of Sèvres Porcelain Plaque on Antique French Kingwood Bonheur du Jour Writing Cabinet - Hawkins Antiques
Antique French Kingwood Bonheur du Jour Cabinet with Sèvres Porcelain Plaques and Ormolu Mounts - Hawkins Antiques
Close Up of Sèvres Porcelain Plaque on Antique French Kingwood Bonheur du Jour Writing Cabinet - Hawkins Antiques
Antique French Kingwood Bonheur du Jour Cabinet with Sèvres Porcelain Plaques and Ormolu Mounts - Hawkins Antiques
Close Up of Sèvres Porcelain Plaque on Antique French Kingwood Bonheur du Jour Writing Cabinet - Hawkins Antiques

Antique French Kingwood Bonheur du Jour Cabinet with Sèvres Porcelain Plaques & Ormolu Mounts

£3,650.00 GBP
£3,650.00 GBP
Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

or 3 interest-free payments of £1,216.66 with Klarna at checkout

5.0 · Read our Google reviews
Dimensions
Height 152cm   Width 102cm   Depth 53cm
Free UK Mainland Delivery Specialist furniture delivery included
Worldwide Delivery Available International shipping arranged by quotation
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Family Antique Specialists Three generations of expertise
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Description

Delivery

Condition

Dimensions

Why Hawkins Antiques?

Description

Overview

A fine French late 19th century bonheur du jour in richly figured kingwood with ormolu mounts throughout and Sèvres-style porcelain plaques. The bonheur du jour - literally, the joy of the day - was the most personal piece of furniture a French cabinet-maker could produce. This example fulfils that intention completely: functioning as a writing desk, a display cabinet, and a decorative statement simultaneously.

Key Features

  • French, late 19th century - kingwood and ormolu throughout
  • Richly figured kingwood veneers in bold chevron pattern - continuous across all surfaces
  • Two Sèvres-style porcelain plaques - hand-painted naturalistic bird scenes on bleu céleste ground
  • Elaborate ormolu surrounds of scalloped turquoise and gilded acanthus to the plaques
  • Upper glazed cabinet with deep blue velvet-lined shelves
  • Three small drawers with original ormolu ring pulls at desk level
  • Pull-out blue velvet writing slide with lockable central drawer below
  • Serpentine form with cabriole legs terminating in ormolu sabots
  • All mounts original - no replacements or losses

Craftsmanship & Detail

The kingwood veneers are laid in a bold chevron pattern across every surface — a technique that requires the cabinet-maker to carefully mirror each leaf of timber so that the figuring flows continuously around the curves of the serpentine form. In lesser work, this pattern breaks at the joints. Here, it does not. The ormolu mounts — cast in gilt bronze and applied with precision - are exceptional in their density and quality: Rococo foliate scrolls cascade across the corners, a ribbon-tied cartouche crowns the upper cabinet, and acanthus-wrapped sabots protect each cabriole leg at the foot. The two Sèvres-style porcelain plaques mounted to the lower doors are the defining detail - hand-painted with naturalistic bird scenes and set within elaborate ormolu surrounds, they transform the lower section from a cabinet into something closer to a painting. The turquoise bleu céleste ground is characteristic of the finest French decorative porcelain of this period and increasingly sought after by collectors.

- Lee Hawkins, Hawkins Antiques · Est. 1960

Delivery

UK Delivery

We offer FREE fully wrapped and insured two-man delivery across mainland UK. All items are handled carefully by our trusted in-house delivery team.

International Shipping

Worldwide shipping is available. We regularly arrange professional international delivery for clients across Europe, the USA, and beyond. Please enquire for a tailored quotation.

Packaging & Handling

  • Professionally wrapped and protected
  • Handled by experienced furniture specialists
  • Carefully transported to minimise movement and risk
  • Collection available by appointment

Condition

Condition Report

Kingwood veneers intact and well-figured throughout with no lifting or losses. All Sèvres porcelain plaques intact with no chips, cracks or restoration. All ormolu mounts original, present and secure with no replacements. Glazed upper doors open and close correctly.

Writing slide extends and retracts smoothly - blue velvet in good condition. All drawers open and close correctly. Good antique condition throughout. Structurally sound and ready to use and display immediately upon delivery.

Additional Notes

  • Kingwood veneers fully intact - no lifting or losses
  • All Sèvres porcelain plaques intact - no chips, cracks or restoration
  • All ormolu mounts original, present and secure - no replacements
  • Writing slide and all drawers functioning correctly

Dimensions

Dimensions


Height 152cm   Width 102cm   Depth 53cm

Why Hawkins Antiques?

Three Generations of Expertise

Hawkins Antiques has specialised in fine antique furniture for over six decades, combining traditional knowledge with carefully selected stock.

Personally Selected Stock

Every piece is individually chosen for quality, character, craftsmanship, and decorative appeal - we do not mass-source inventory.

Honest Condition Reporting

We photograph and describe each item accurately, highlighting condition, restorations, age-related wear, and authenticity.

Specialist Delivery

Free UK mainland delivery is included, with international shipping arranged through specialist furniture and fine art carriers.

More from Hawkins Antiques

Let customers speak for us

from 20 reviews

Hawkins brilliant company and service from ordering to delivery.
Purchased some lovely pieces and helped change my orders with no problems .shout out to the delivery lads so helpful

Paul Hunt

I would buy from Hawkins again.

Sandie B

Lovely chair, very carefully wrapped to avoid damage in transit. Carefully delivered, on time. Very pleased.

Sandie B

Very pleased with this. Very pretty bed and great to have the side irons. It was delivered with great care exactly when I was told it would come.

Sandie B

We bought a beautiful Georgian sideboard from Lee and it arrived within a couple of days, I was so impressed. It was all seamless and the delivery drivers were courteous and friendly too.
Very happy with the sideboard and is a lovely addition to our home.

Charlotte D

I found Hawkin’s website when looking for an antique cabinet online. I found the perfect piece, ordered it and it had arrived a week later! Free shipping, great communication and 2 guys who carried it in the house and assembled it. Great service, I will be using again in the future. Thank you!

josie conder

Purchased a beautiful 19th century French kingwood display cabinet from Hawkins Antiques. I am delighted with my purchase and would love to purchase from here again in the future! Lee provided excellent communication with very quick and thorough responses. Delivery was arranged extremely quickly and the delivery duo did a brilliant job up a narrow staircase, getting the cabinet into position safely and without issue. Highly recommend Lee and all at Hawkins Antiques!

Rebecca

Websiteeasy to use & very quick delivery.

Wayne Crocker

Our house was built in 1820, so I have been slowly acquiring furniture from the same period. The piece is perfect & arrived very quickly too.

Wayne Crocker

We love our fender. Brilliant condition and very speedy and good delivery service.

Chloe Frost

We purchased a table from Hawkins Antique and it is absolutely stunning and a mint condition! Delivery was very fast and the delivery team were fantastic and really went the extra mile to get the table into the house - it wasn't simple due to our narrow front door, but the guys managed to get it in, keeping the table safe along the way! Highly recommend - very happy! Made another purchase already!

Liam Phillips

If you are looking for an antique/furniture dealer who sells good quality at appropriate prices, are prompt, polite and helpful and deliver what they promise, our recent experience of Hawkins exactly fits that bill.wewill gladly buy from them again.

Bali Kochar

We had purchased a walnut sideboard from this company. We are delighted with it and with the service. The sideboard - is in a very good condition, clean, as described and advertised. We found dealing with everyone in that company to be straight forward and helpful. I would not hesitate buying from them again! Highly recommended!!!

Monika Hold

The cabinet was just as expected photos were spot on. Delivery service was excellent and fast. Highly recommend Lee and co. Thank you

Linda Bennett

Superb service from purchase to delivery. Lee could not have been more helpful and the item is exactly as described. His delivery guys were wonderful too!

Ruth Middle
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