A kindred article is represented in the upper right-hand corner of Plate XLVIII. This is a breakfast table made by Carlin and Patrat. It is now in the South Kensington Museum.
Desks or bureaux, like the commodes, became heavier and approached the sarcophagus in shape. The rolltop cylinder was the most popular design. One of these is represented on Plate XLVII., No. 4. The cabinet was also in use, and sometimes it was constructed especially for the corner of a room. A corner cabinet is shown on Plate XLVII., No. 1, with its panel inlaid with a floral design, and its grooved column at the side that is of the vase shape, and supports a small urn with a burning torch. It was considered proper to place a vase on the top of the cabinet. The tall vase was greatly used as a decoration, and was placed not only on cabinet and pier-table, but a pedestal was frequently provided for it. (See Plate XLIII.)
Another specimen of a cylinder desk is represented on Plate XLIV. It is in the style of Riesener, and is made of mahogany with delicately chased metal trimmings. The frieze is a combination of scrolls, griffins and leaves; the panels of the doors and the cylinder are also bordered with metal; the foot is encased in a metal leaf; and the key-plates are ornately worked. The legs and pilasters are grooved. The top is covered with a marble slab surmounted by an open-worked metal gallery.
The seats differ greatly from those of the former period. In these, the curved outline entirely vanishes. During the transitional period, the feet are of the console outline, ending in a scroll or shell, or peg-top shape that succeeded the leaf shoe; and before the medallion was used for the back of the chair frame, the violin shape was employed. The next change was a sort of projecting square, then the shape of the handle of a basket, until the form is reached that shows a perfect square between two straight columns, each ending in a steeple ornament and making a kind of frame for the covering. (See Plates XLVI. and XLVIII.) The small arm-chairs were called _cabriolets_, but the frames of each were similarly ornamented with beads, winding ribbons, laurel leaves, etc. The richest chairs had a carved and gilt ornament in the centre of the top rail, usually a bow of ribbon, a bouquet of flowers, or a garland of small blossoms or leaves.