When Riesener delivered this writing table to Madame Élisabeth’s bathroom at Versailles in 1778, it was described in the royal accounts as having a marquetry top showing an allegory of Time. This marquetry top was replaced with another some nine years later (perhaps because of water damage), in a style markedly different to that of Riesener, showing a floral bouquet framed by scrolling acanthus leaves. It has been suggested that this alteration was carried out by Pierre-Roger Lacroix, son of Roger Vandercruse.