ITEM ON HOLD

Please contact our team to be notified if this item becomes available.


French Brown Cerused Curved Oak Desk, 1940s

$12,000.00

A French cerused oak desk from the 1940s, sourced from a private estate that included several pieces attributed to Jacques Quinet.

The desk was likely custom made for the interior itself, designed in response to the architecture and proportions of the home rather than as part of a larger commercial production. Its silhouette is spare but deliberate, with thick plank legs and a gently bowed front edge that softens the otherwise architectural form.

Crafted in cerused oak, the finish draws out the grain in pale contrast against the deep, rich brown ground. The labor-intensive cerusing process requires the wood to be brushed and worked by hand, opening the grain so a contrasting material can be worked into its pores. The excess is then removed from the surface, leaving the natural grain especially pronounced and making it a defining feature of the piece.

Grounded and restrained, the desk has the feeling of much French custom furniture from the period—pieces designed with close attention to material, proportion, and atmosphere.

A coordinating Bookcase, Cabinet, and Coffee Table are also available.

DIMENSIONS: 55"W x 30.5"D x 30"H

ADDITIONAL DIMENSIONS: Greatest depth on curve: 30.5"; Edge depth: 26.5"

ORIGIN: France

PERIOD: 1940s

MATERIALS: Oak

CONDITION: In very good vintage condition. This piece has undergone a four step refinishing process to the base and a six step refinishing process to the top of the desk by our skillful team of in-house restorationists, preserving the original intent of the piece.

Item Location

This item is located in our warehouse.

Click here for information about our showroom and hours. No appointment needed.

Our Warehouse is located 10 minutes from our Showroom in Chicago's River West Neighborhood. Please click here to schedule a viewing.

Shipping, Delivery, and Pick Up

This item ships via White Glove Delivery

South Loop Loft ships throughout the Chicagoland area and Nationwide. For products that can be shipped via UPS, the shipping price will calculate at check out. For large scale pieces, the cost of shipping or delivery is not included in the purchase price.

To request a White Glove Delivery quote, please reach out to us

Note: If your cart contains both UPS shippable products and White Glove Delivery products, your shipping quote in the cart will only reflect the UPS rate. South Loop Loft will reach out to you with a secondary shipping quote for your White Glove delivery products.

We provide:

  • Local Pickup at our Chicago Showroom
  • Local White Glove Delivery in the Chicago - Land and Surrounding Area
  • Nationwide White Glove Delivery
  • Professional Packaging UPS Shipping of Small and Medium Sized Items
  • A team of experienced professionals dedicated to ensuring your item arrives safely.

View our shipping policy here.

Returns

All Sales Are Final. If you have any hesitation prior to purchase or would like more details, we would love to share more photos and answer any questions!  South Loop Loft neither assumes nor offers any warranty on vintage, or refinished/reupholstered items after items leave our showroom. View our full policy here.

Questions?
Download Tear Sheet
Download Tearsheet
French Brown Cerused Curved Oak Desk, 1940s

A French cerused oak desk from the 1940s, sourced from a private estate that included several pieces attributed to Jacques Quinet.

The desk was likely custom made for the interior itself, designed in response to the architecture and proportions of the home rather than as part of a larger commercial production. Its silhouette is spare but deliberate, with thick plank legs and a gently bowed front edge that softens the otherwise architectural form.

Crafted in cerused oak, the finish draws out the grain in pale contrast against the deep, rich brown ground. The labor-intensive cerusing process requires the wood to be brushed and worked by hand, opening the grain so a contrasting material can be worked into its pores. The excess is then removed from the surface, leaving the natural grain especially pronounced and making it a defining feature of the piece.

Grounded and restrained, the desk has the feeling of much French custom furniture from the period—pieces designed with close attention to material, proportion, and atmosphere.

A coordinating Bookcase, Cabinet, and Coffee Table are also available.

Dimensions
Width: 55"
Depth: 30.5"
Height: 30"
Additional Dimensions: Greatest depth on curve: 30.5"; Edge depth: 26.5"
Origin: France
Period: 1940s
Materials: Oak
Condition
In very good vintage condition. This piece has undergone a four step refinishing process to the base and a six step refinishing process to the top of the desk by our skillful team of in-house restorationists, preserving the original intent of the piece.

685 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL 60642 | southlooploft.com | (312) 291-8479