18th Century French Louis XVI Period Secretary is a marvelous example of the neoclassical revival that swept through Europe during the reign of Louis XVI!  Back in the days when American colonists were separating from the British colonial empire, the French proved to be invaluable allies, but the conflict did not affect the styles of the day, influenced by the preferences of the court.  Here we see tailored, rectilinear architecture, indluding tapered and fluted legs that support a finely crafted casework above, designed with a slant front that also happens to hinge out to become a desk surface.  When open, the interior reveals a small upper shelf with six drawers and a cubby hole inside, each drawer being fitted with brass knobs.  Another brass knob appears on the floor of the cubby hole, and allows access to a sliding hidden compartment!  The desk surface is supported by two pull outs that retract back into the casework when not needed, and are also fitted with brass knobs for easy access.  A full width drawer below provides excellent storage opportunities, fitted with tailored brass bale pulls and a brass shield style key guard that complements the key guard on the slant front above.  The real mystique of this historical piece, however, lies in the hand-carved embellishment that captivates one's visual senses from all angles!  The top features a recessed, beautifully contoured panel design.  The sides feature a similar design to the top flanked by fluted cornerposts and a row of fluting above, with the upper section carved in bas relief with an olive branch.  The drawer boasts scrolled foliates below a tier of fluting that leads the eye to the centerpiece of the show, the slant front desk panel which features a pair of Grecian style urns, elaborate foliate scrolls, and a laurel swag with rosette, all framed with beaded trim.
Circa 1780s
Measures 42H x 34.5W x 19.5D; surface 28.5H
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