A Charles X period secrétaire à abattant, or fall front desk, circa 1825, topped with turquin blue marble. Neoclassical scrolling foliage motifs of amaranth wood are inlaid into a veneer of mottled maple.

The fall front writing surface unlocks at the turn of a “diamond” key ♦ (the shape is hollowed down the column of the key). The table is covered in pale blue leather embossed with gold leaf borders. The mirrored and ornate inner gallery contains six “English” drawers and two secret compartments that spring open at the push of a button. It is interesting to note that these small English drawers are not interchangeable, a hallmark of custom handmade furniture before the industrial era.

Note that the marquetry inside, light wood inlaid into a dark background, is the reverse of the outer wood color scheme. Finally, The lower half contains three pull out shelves, and at the very bottom, a hidden drawer rests at above the carved claw feet.

It was sold with the matching daybed which was perhaps not ordered from the same cabinet maker but was of the same style and period.

H: 60 in. W: 30.5 in. D: 17 in.

Myers & Monroe, LLC