680 - A ladies writing desk by Johann Reimann (1767/70 - 1834)

A ladies writing desk by Johann Reimann (1767/70 - 1834) Mahogany, palisander, ebony and yew veneered on softwood; fire-gilt bronze. Cylinder bureau with a wide apron drawer, which opens the cylinder when pulled out. Broad central compartment with four columns, flanked on either side by three drawers. Raised on elegantly curved legs around a central column, joined by a central stretcher with an oval basket finial. Inside the cylinder, a paper label inscribed "Verfertigt v. Johann Reimann Bürgerl. K: Tischlermeister in Wienn den 1ten Januari 1803". Beneath one of the drawers, a paper label with the inventory number: "No. 493. / K:T:T: / m." A breakage to one of the stretchers beneath the basket. Height 96.5, width 75, depth 46.5 cm. Vienna, 1803. This exceptional Viennese writing desk is distinguished by the fragile and ingenious architecture of its legs. The materials used likewise mark it out as an outstanding example of Viennese furniture-making at the beginning of the 19th century. Three comparable pieces have been published. One is now in the Universalmuseum Joanneum in Graz and is by Benedikt Holl; another, also by Holl and embellished with gouaches by Balthasar Wigand, was lost from the MAK Vienna during the Second World War. The third was made by the Viennese cabinetmaker Engelbert Schiedermeyer and is now in Schwetzingen Palace. The present piece is considerably earlier than these three secre­taires, having been made in 1803. Johann Reimann may possibly have been influenced by a design by Thomas Sheraton, whose work was also published in 1803. The Viennese Johann Reimann was trained as a "Gallanterie-Tischler" (maker of fine, luxury furniture); shortly before his death in 1834, at the latest, he was permitted to style himself "k. k. Hoftischlermeister" (Imperial and Royal Court Cabinetmaker). This lot contains organic material that does not permit the export of this lot into non-EU countries. Provenance Formerly in private ownership, Warsaw. Literature Cf. Himmelheber, Biedermeiermöbel, Düsseldorf 1978, figs. 30 and 34.