Antique 18th Century Fall Front Desks and Secretaires
Fall Front Desks and Secretaires
As antique desks especially for writing grew in popularity in the 18th century, different styles were developed. The secretaire a abattant, a tall French writing desk, was first produced in the 1700s in Paris by the cabinet-maker, Jean-Francois Oeben.
The secretaire a abattant looked, from its flat-fronted exterior appearance, like an armoire, or wardrobe. However, its upper section was hinged and, when opened, fell forward to reveal a leather-lined writing surface.
The lower section had drawers or doors, behind which were shelves or drawers for storage.
In many examples, an additional drawer was located below the cornice Of the upper section, often concealed by decoration.
Many secretaires a abattant were tall and narrow. Their rectilinear shape, which was sometimes softened by the use of legs and rounded corners, was Neoclassical in style, and made the earliest ones very influential in
furniture design.
High-quality woods were used in the construction and marquetry was often employed, particularly on the fall-fronts, in geometric or Classically inspired designs. Panels of Oriental lacquer were also popular,
and during the 1770s and 80s secretaires a abattant incorporating Sevres porcelain plaques were produced. Neoclassical motifs such as Vitruvian scrolls, keyhole escutcheons of laurel leaves, and inlaid urns were sometimes used.
The design of the secretaire a abattant quickly spread across Europe. In the Low Countries. lacquer and marquetry were sometimes combined with Dutch floral marquetry, while in Germany Eastern Europe, and
Scandinavia, decoration was more restrained. British pieces became particularly good examples of the country’s Neoclassical furniture.
The apron is centred by a grotesque ormulu mask.
A pierced ormolu gallery runs around three sides at the top.
The white marble top with canted corners is set into a brass frame.
The side panels are lacquered, decorated with foliage, and inlaid with mother of pearl.
The lion’s head mask, here made of gilt bronze, is a common Neoclassical mnotif.
The doors - inlaid and lacquered with an eagle and a peacock - conceal a safe.
ENGLISH DROP-LEAF DESK
This mahogany desk has hinged, drop leaves. The frieze contains one drawer with a dummy drawer on the opposite end. The square, tapering legs are joined by a cross-stretcher. A hinged, butterfly bracket supports
the leaves. c.1790.
MID-ATLANTIC DROP-LEAF DESK
This mahogany desk has hinged leaves, which are supported by a butterfly bracket. The beaded frieze has a cock-beaded drawer and a dummy drawer. The square, tapering legs are joined by a cross-stretcher near
the bottom of the legs. c.1790.
ENGLISH TRIPOD DESK
FRENCH SECRETAIRE A ABATTANT
This Parisian secretaire is covered with black lacquer, with mother-of-pearl decoration, and gilt-bronze mounts. Made by Philippe-Claude Montigny. c.1770.
ENGLISH FALL-FRONT SECRETAIRE
This English secretaire has tulipwood and satinwood crossbanded inlays. Its fall front and cupboard door are quarter-veneered, with a central oval fan medallion and vase. c.1780
FRENCH SECRETAIRE A ABATTANT
This Parisian marble-topped, harewood secretaire is inlaid with geometric marquetry. Ormolu borders surround its panels. Below the long drawer is a fall front and a pair of doors. c.1780.
SECRETAIRE A ABATTANT
This kingwood and rosewood veneered desk, has maple inlay and marble top. Under the cornice a locking drawer that opens, supported by hinges, to reveal a fitted interior. The legs
are high and tapered. c.1780.
LOW COUNTRIES SECRE TAIRE A ABATTANT
This mahogany secretaire uses different veneer patterns to create ornament and movement. Its doors are quarter veneered and crossbanded. A shell-shaped oval patera adorns the centre of the fall front, and a
geometric ribbon inlay decorates the canted corners of the case. c.1790.
ROSEWOOD SECRETAIRE
This secretaire is made of rosewood, kingwood, and other exotic woods. It has marquetry decoration and gilt-bronze mountings. Below the cornice is applied ormolu, in a Vitruvian scroll, which in this piece serves to conceal a drawer. c.1780
SWEDISH SECRETAIRE
This Swedish secretaire lacks a lower cupboard, but its upper section is a writing surface that opens in the same way as a French secretaire. It has a marble top, a geometric brass band across the top, and decorative inlay on the fall front and side panels. c.1780.
LOW COUNTRIES SECRETAIRE A ABATTANT
The corners of this Dutch secretaire are rounded, with etched escutcheons in the Chinese style as the decorative focal point. It is also japanned, in imitation of Chinese lacquer, with a design of idealized landscapes and figures, using two shades of gold on a black ground. The fall front opens to reveal drawers, pigeonholes, and shelves. c.1800.
SOUTHERN SECRETAIRE
The primary wood of this bookcase is walnut, but the poplar and yellow pine interior woods identify this as a southern piece. The upper part is flat-topped with two hinged, panelled doors; doors of this type are rarely seen in the northern states. The lower section consists of a slant-front desk above four graduated drawers supported on bracket feet. The slant front conceals an interior with drawers and cubby holes flanking a central prospect door. c. 1770.
WRITING OR DRESSING DESK
This small walnut desk with a single drawer has a rectangular top with a large overhang, a typical feature of southern desk. The brass handle and plate wen, imported from Britain.
INLAID SECRETAIRE
The marble top of this secretaire rests above a case with canted corners. The fall front opens onto a fitted interior with six drawers and a green leather insert. Below are two drawers, each with Japanese-style light
wood inlays. With gilt-bronze mounts throughout, this piece stands on fluted, tapering feet with sabots. c.1780.
FRENCH SECRETAIRE A ABATTANT
This Parisian secretaireis made of woods including rosewood and kingwood, with floral inlays. Decoration comes from its geometric patterns, as its mounts are limited to the central drop and feet fronts. Its fall front opens to reveal green, gilded leather. The lower section doors cover three drawers either side of a large shelf. 1778.
ENGLISH DROP-LEAF desk
The top of this mahogany desk tilts back when a latch under the desk top is released. The top rests on a turned baluster column, which is joined to a tripod base with a mortise-andtenon joint. The calbriole legs have pad feet. c.1770.
PHILADELPHIA TRIPOD DESK
This mahogany tea desk has a dish top birdcage device, which holds the top onto the turned base. The claw-and-ball feet are a typical feature of American Chippendale pieces, but were no longer fashionable in Britain. c.1770.
ENGLISH TRIPOD DESK
This oval-topped mahogany desk is made up of a rectangular section with two leaves. A hinged butterfly bracket supports the extended leaves. Tapering legs end in brass casters. These desks are known as Pembroke desks. c.1780.
MID-ATLANTIC DROP-LEAF DESK
This mahogany Pembroke desk has an oblong top and hinged D-shape leaves, with a bow-shaped frieze. The frieze is inlaid with lily-ofthe-valley flowers and the desk is supported on square, tapering legs. c.1800.
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