Empire Secretary Desk, Denmark 1810
This unique empire secretary desk hails from early 19th century Copenhagen, Denmark. With a deeply impressive Mahogany veneer, it juts out from the corner of a room with poise, elegance, and imperial charm. It’s in very good condition and retains its original brass fittings.
Empire Style
The Empire style of the late 18th and early 19th century is rife with Neoclassicism. Reviving some of the more imposing geometry of Ancient Roman and Greek design, Empire furniture often features columns, strong angles, and stringent symmetry, for instance. It rejects some of the more playful elements of its antecedent (Baroque style).
This secretary desk embodies the very best qualities of Empire style. The lower part has three curved drawers. Two columns frame the writing flap and the lower drawers. Another curved drawer decorates the upper part. Detailed wood drawings with military themes are featured on the inside of the piece.
The front of the piece folds out into a writing surfaces, a key identifier of a secretary desk. As a piece of interior décor, it is both impressive and compatible with American sensibilities in furniture design. And its functionality as a work and storage space is unquestionable.
Hidden Compartments
The most remarkable features of this secretary desk, however, are its multiple hidden compartments. No doubt once used to hide family valuables, you can make use of them in the same way – or just show them off to your guests.
On the inside, the central mirror and its wood casing can be pulled out, revealing additional storage space behind. But it’s on the outside that the piece gets truly exciting. Both the left and right curving wings of the headpiece are entirely removable, revealing an open space beneath. The central crown of the piece has a hidden snap lever that shoots out an additional drawer from its center.
Experiencing these secrets up close feels like a magic trick – a piece of furniture over 200 years old with secret, hand-crafted functionality that we only dream of in childhood fantasies.
Product Details
Dimensions
Height: 68.9 in. (175 cm), Width: 45.28 in. (115 cm), Depth: 23.82 in. (60.5 cm)
Materials
Mahogany Veneer, Original Brass Fittings.
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