Secrétaire

This type of cabinet is known as a secrétaire à abattant, or a fall-front desk. The top half of the front lets down to form a writing surface, revealing the drawers and pigeonholes within. Secrétaires à abattant are intended to stand against a wall, so the design of this secrétaire likely complimented the wood paneling of the room for which it was created. The bronze Greek key pattern around the top edge of the cabinet, the ridges mimicking columns on either side of the central panels, and the abundance of straight lines and geometric shapes demonstrate the Neoclassical style coming into fashion at this time.