But how could the prospect box be locked into place so that the hidden compartment could be secured from would-be thieves? The trick was to employ a simple wooden slide. The Secret CompartmentĪ secret compartment hidden within this matrix of drawers and compartments would provide the owner with peace of mind and an extra measure of security for protecting family treasurers. Each drawer is made of tulip popular and measures 2 3/4” deep by 6 5/8” long. Unfortunately, this secret compartment failed to produce any treasurers or inscriptions.ĭesk interior showing the prospect box and the three graduated secret drawers. Slowly moving the prospect box forward revealed a bank of three graduated tulip-popular drawers. Once the column on the hinge side of the prospect door was removed, a slight tug on the prospect box proved it to be loose. Closer examination revealed that both columns were not only removable, but provided additional storage space as well. I also noticed that although the prospect door could not be opened fully because the vine carved acanthus leaved quarter column on the hinge side of the door projected past the adjacent pigeonhole and nesting drawer storage unit, the door opened just wide enough so that the nesting drawers of the prospect box could be removed. When I unlocked the prospect door to remove the nest drawers of the prospect box, I noticed that they were much shallower than those in the main part of the desk. In removing the two-over-two nest drawers on either side of the central prospect door to examine their construction, I noticed that they extended all the way to the three horizontally laid backboards of the piece. Each area consists of two pigeonholes over two nest drawers. To the side of each column are two storage areas. This prospect box is covered with a hinged prospect door that can be locked to provide added security.ĭesk interior showing writing surface, center prospect box with locking prospect door flanked by two vertical carved quarter columns. In addition to providing a writing area, the open lid offers access to several small nest drawers and pigeonholes for storing writing materials and domestic records as well as a central prospect box. When opened, the hinged lid rests on two extensions to support the weight of a writing surface. The drawers offer ample storage for household goods. Even so, the discovery of such a compartment in an eighteenth century desk of local manufacture speaks not only to the ingenuity of local cabinetmakers, but to the sophistication and wealth of the local consumer market.Ĭombining the functions of both chest and desk, the slant-front desk consists of a series of drawers, usually four as in this case, below a hinged lid. James McMahon The Slant-Front Deskįor those of you familiar with the National Treasure movie franchise, this story of a secret (but empty) compartment in a Chippendale style walnut slant-front (or slant-top) desk might seem rather ordinary.
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