18th Century English Country Secretary in Hand-Carved Oak

18th Century English Country Secretary in Hand-Carved Oak is a superlative example of the design, conceived as a piece that takes up no more space than a chest of drawers, but can serve as a writing desk or student desk by simply dropping open the slant front! Completely carved from solid old-growth oak, it features three carved foliate panels surrounded by Greek coin bordering on the slant front itself. All five drawers in front are carved completely with variations on the Greek coin motif, and fitted with intricate brass guards with bale pulls and matching key guards. Immediately flanking the top drawer are two brass knobs that allow one to pull out supports to rest under the slant front when opened, creating a writing surface and revealing a finely designed interior with five cubby holes with the centermost being framed by carved half columns and a contoured arch with four small drawers just above the writing surface each fitted with a brass ring pull. As beautiful to behold as it is efficient in purpose!
Circa 1790s
Measures 39H x 32W x 19.5D; surface 29H