Jacques Dubois (born France, 1694–1763) · France · c. 1745–49
Letter writing became a fashionable accomplishment among the aristocratic and professional classes during the 1700s, creating a demand for refined and specialized accessories like this portable writing desk. The desk's surface is decorated to mimic Asian lacquer, a highly labor-intensive finish made from multiple layers of tree resin. These writing desks served not only as practical tools but also as fashionable symbols of refinement and cultured taste.