Bureau

<p>The top portion of this desk drops down to create a writing surface, revealing a suite of discreet drawers. Its bulbous shape (<em>bombé</em> in French) is characteristic of continental European furniture from the mid-1700s. Northern Italian designers developed a distinct style, called <em>Barocchetto</em>, inspired by marble church altars. Craftspeople expertly arranged the burl-walnut veneers in this example to mimic marbling, while raised molding unifies the drawers, enhancing the visual harmony.</p>