This particular secretaire is English in origin, dating to about 1880. It’s very solidly constructed. The design is simple, allowing the architecture of the piece to do the talking. A subtle inlay of red wood and Mother-of-Pearl is the only adornment on the front.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Object of the Day: A Queen Anne Style Secretaire
From the graceful curves of its cabriole legs to the undulation of its bowed front, this secretaire represents the delicacy of the Queen Anne Style. A secretaire (or secretary) is a desk that is comprised of a chest of drawers upon which sits a cabinet with a sloped, hinged writing surface. Sometimes a secretaire will also be capped by a bookcase or glass-front cabinet.
Opening the cabinet further reveals the quality of the craftsmanship. Neatly assembled cubbies and pigeon holes would have helped to organize the owner of this desk. A piece such as this would have graced the parlor’s of many a fine home. It appeals to the Victorian love of beauty as well as their love of order.
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