A Potted History of Writing Furniture continued.....

It was in about 1650 that gentle folk began to spend their time writing and performing their own clerical work and this led to a greater demand for more versatile forms of writing furniture.The result was the 'Secretaire' - a piece of furniture where the writing compartment is fronted by a flap or false drawer hinged on the lower edge so that it stands upright when closed.The flap is opened downwards so that when flat it becomes a large writing surface.

About 1700 the 'Knee-Hole Writing Table' or 'Desk' was developed which allowed the writer freedom of movement and comfort without loss of storage capacity. Sometimes there is a cupboard at the back of the knee -hole cavity to provide even more storage space. The term 'Bonheur du Jour' applies to a ladies writing desk and first appeared in about 1760. These highly desirable items were very popular during the reign of Louis XVI and featured a very delicate design with long tapering legs and usually a recessed superstructure containing a number of drawers for writing implements and personal effects. Also in France during the same period the 'Bureau Plat' achieved much popularity especially in the chateaux of rural France. They are large pieces of furniture, highly decorative, featuring a long table with an elegant and often ornate writing surface on four carved legs. The ornamentation was sometimes of marquetry, ormolu or bronze mounts and often in combination.

Almost a century later during the Regency period in England the 'Writing' or 'Library Table' became popular as a fine, usually mahogany table, with turned and sometimes fluted legs. Chippendale introduced some of the most innovative designs for writing tables and desks. Gothic ornamentation was still in favour but he thought that plain cabriole legs, as well as Ogee bracket feet were more elegant than those of pillar form. The serpentine shaped table with a circular recess for the knees with a cupboard behind he rather complicatedly described as the 'Commode- Buroe-Table' in his Director of 1762.

A Potted History of Writing Furniture continued..