Drop-front desk (secrétaire à abattant or secrétaire en cabinet), Paris, France

The Sevres Manufactory quickly became famous for its high quality porcelain, decorated with intricate designs and patterns. The factory produced a wide range of items including vases, plates, cups and figurines. Many of these objects were made for the French royal family and other wealthy patrons. Over the years, the Sevres factory has continued to produce porcelain of exceptional quality. Today it is one of the most prestigious porcelain manufacturers in the world. The factory continues to produce a wide range of objects, including both traditional and modern designs. Many of these objects are highly sought after by collectors and art lovers.

Adam Weisweiler was a German-born cabinetmaker who worked in Paris in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He was renowned for his exceptional ability to create furniture that combined elegant design with technical precision. Weisweiler's career began in the workshop of Jean-Francois Oeben, one of the most renowned cabinetmakers of the time. He went on to work for several other prominent cabinetmakers, including Martin Carlin and Jean-Henri Riesener, before setting up his own workshop in 1777. Weisweiler's furniture was characterised by a refined neoclassical style inspired by ancient Greek and Roman designs. He often used exotic woods such as mahogany, ebony and tulipwood, and incorporated elaborate marquetry and ormolu mounts into his pieces. One of Weisweiler's most important commissions was to create furniture for Marie-Antoinette's private apartments at Versailles. He also produced pieces for other members of the French royal family, as well as wealthy aristocrats and collectors throughout Europe. Despite his success, Weisweiler's career was cut short by the upheavals of the French Revolution. He was forced to flee Paris in 1792 and spent several years in London before returning to France in 1797. He continued to produce furniture until his death in 1810, but never regained the prominence he had enjoyed before the Revolution. Today, Weisweiler's furniture is sought after by collectors and museums around the world. His pieces are valued for their exquisite craftsmanship, elegant design and historical significance as examples of French Neoclassical furniture.