What is the name of the Empire-era ladies' writing table?

What is the name of the Empire-era ladies' writing table?

• A. Bureau plat
• B. Bonheur du jour
• C. Secretaire
• D. Bonhour du jour

Answer: (B)

The bonheur du jour is the name of an Empire-era ladies’ writing table. This small, elegant desk was designed for women’s use in domestic spaces like the salon or boudoir, emphasizing light, refined proportions and decorative detail rather than the heftier, masculine desks favored elsewhere. It often features a slim silhouette, a small drawer or compartments under a hinged writing surface, and sometimes ormolu or inlay, all suited to letters, small tasks, and personal correspondence—reflecting the era’s shift toward intimate, everyday furniture for women. The other options describe different desk types (a flat writing surface without the feminine, intimate design) or are simply misspellings.

The bonheur du jour is the name of an Empire-era ladies’ writing table. This small, elegant desk was designed for women’s use in domestic spaces like the salon or boudoir, emphasizing light, refined proportions and decorative detail rather than the heftier, masculine desks favored elsewhere. It often features a slim silhouette, a small drawer or compartments under a hinged writing surface, and sometimes ormolu or inlay, all suited to letters, small tasks, and personal correspondence—reflecting the era’s shift toward intimate, everyday furniture for women. The other options describe different desk types (a flat writing surface without the feminine, intimate design) or are simply misspellings.