Small antique Biedermeier secretary

Dimensions: H x W x D: 146 x 84 x 45 cm

Description:
A piece of furniture standing on pointed legs set over a corner, with doors at the bottom, a writing flap above and a drawer at the top.
Clean, continuous walnut grain pattern on the front and sides. Fittings typical of the period and region.

If we open the writing flap, we see a tidy interior made of maple and clearly structured by ebonised strips.
At the very bottom is a wide, visually tripartite drawer. Above this, to the left and right of the open compartment, there are three drawers arranged one above the other. The upper end of the interior is formed by a drawer with a triangular pediment flanked by letter compartments.

The large drawer above the writing compartment has a hinged front and can be used as a standing desk when locked at an angle.
The beautiful finish of the front corners is worth mentioning here. In order to achieve a neat finish and to avoid having to mount the fittings in the end grain, the ends of the sides and front that meet were extended using mortised longitudinal joints. A beautiful and well-crafted detail.

Worth knowing:
The typical Biedermeier secretary has the dimensions of a small one-door cabinet and is therefore also known as a writing cabinet or cabinet secretary. This type of furniture is characterised by its narrow, linen cupboard-like shape with a hinged writing surface in the middle and upper sections. The lower section can be designed as either a semi-cupboard or a chest of drawers.
[...] The varied interior design of the secretary section with drawers, compartments, doors, niches and secret compartments testifies to the office-like and intimate significance of the secretary in Biedermeier living culture.
The secretary is considered the most representative piece of furniture in the Biedermeier living area. This type of furniture not only epitomises the parade furniture of its time, it also reflects the emerging educational system of the bourgeoisie.

[Source: Rainer Haaff - Biedermeier Furniture Germany & Danube Monarchy p. 193]

Condition: Cleanly restored, shellac hand polish.

Price: This secretary is already sold. I always have similar models in my assortment. Depending on the model between 4500,- and 5500,-€. Please feel free to contact me!