Velvet French Blotter with Baroque Metalwork

Velvet, metal. Very Good. Very impressive blotter with a rich scarlet velvet fabric on the boards and decorated with brass mounts, both as a centerpiece and a border. Border mounts have three separate bands, the inner and outer bands are of a chain, and the center, more elaborate, band features interconnected urns -- on the vertical, interspersed with grotesque masks and pediments, on the horizontal, linked by swags of ribbon and fruits. All these devices are employed, in the centerpiece, with is topped by two flames. The actual center is a agglomeration of swirls and tassels. A small plaque near the base of this centerpiece bears the initials of MLF, obviously those of the initial owner, but whose identity is lost in the mists of time. Also within the perimeter bands, in each corner, are four hemispheric tacks. The endapers are of a silk damask decorated with stylized birds and lions. Their are four thick leaves between these. These papers have a pattern of squares within squares -- horizontally and diagonally set. The object is large, measuring 40 by 32 cm. Condition: Velvet is worn in places, with frays along the edges, and the spine mostly rubbed raw, and some such rubbing along the edges. One of the leaves has a closed tear of about four inches in length. Still an attractive unique curio.