Pre-Restoration French Secretary Desk; Fine 19th century Mahogany Period Furniture!

[@craigathonian5755]

God, What a beautiful piece of work ! This secretary is nice too. This video has another main attraction for me, and that is the beautiful crotch mahogany, and with knowing the age means "Genuine Mahogany' or Swietenia Mahagoni; a wood species which is protected and unavailable now. This wood has the best of "flame" out of all the crotch cuts. That interior ? WOW ! WOW ! WOW ! .....Very inspiring ! { Also, that mirror is a great example of good "feng shui" With your back to a room, one is naturally vulnerable when lost in thought. With the mirror, a person can be at ease to attend to their work, by having the ability of being able to quickly look up to see behind you. I wonder if this philosophy was also brought over with the Chinoiserie craze ? ...which was also during the age of enlightenment.} Thanks for another great post ❣

[@MyersMonroe]

Thanks for such an enriching and kind comment. I am glad to see the pieces, which are so layered, are digitally reaching someone such as yourself who is able to appreciate more than I can present - Not surprising to hear this wood isn't even available anymore! Also great observation about the mirror. I have not read anything that directly explains these mirrors but another viewer said something similar per being about to see behind oneself.

[@oldeuropeantiquehomefurnis634]

Another enjoyable video!

[@RelaxingRestoration]

Very nice! that purple heart inlay is beautiful!! Very informative video :)

[@MyersMonroe]

Thanks so much ! Glad you liked this one

[@hansoncogen7772]

Fascinating as always! Thanks, Cole.

[@chateaudelamotte9527]

Very nice piece !! Glad to hear that you like "untouched" furnitures and you are able to have them restored with respect to your furnitures. Sorry to hear about the key, I have several keys " a treffle" but this not that kind you need.

[@MyersMonroe]

This key being missing is so unfortunate - especially since it was with the piece not long ago. Fortunately I don't have to control / manage every step of the logistics ...but things like this are unavoidable from time to time. Somehow this is the first time a key has gone missing.

[@chateaudelamotte9527]

The inside of it is magnificent and I think about the 17th century cabinet furnitures. If you come to France you are welcome to our castle. château de la Motte in Noailly

[@MyersMonroe]

Avec plaisir ! Thank you that would be wonderful - also I would love to do a video on 17th century ones.

[@semol]

Any chance to see this beauty again, once fully restored?

[@MyersMonroe]

No reason why not ! I’ll make another video when it is complete.

[@williamanderson238]

The mirror is so that the person writing at the desk can see who is coming into the room from behind. It was used more to make sure someone (usually a servant) did not have prying eyes. Hopefully we will see it restored.

[@MyersMonroe]

That’s great

[@williamanderson238]

@@MyersMonroe My great aunt was a lady of incredible age when I was a kid. She probably would have been born in the late 1860s. Her mother was born in the 1820's. She was from Eastern Europe and had a very elaborately furnished aparment in the "French Style." She had a similar "mirrored" desk. She had some other name for it bureau d'someting. It was located at the end of the "Enfilade." While she was writing / paying bills, she could keep track of what was going on down throuh the entry arches of all the other main rooms in the apartment. She also knew when someone was coming into the room so she could slip letters into a slit at the back of the writing surface. Sadly the adults did not appreciate her taste so who knows where it all is. Thanks for these videos, I really enjoy & learn from a detailed review of the items.

[@johnbray3138]

Love the thud of the fall front at the end of the vlog! More importantly is that a signature/stamp on the back, located on the side molding end, to the left of the missing label tacks? Also, is there a concealed drawer in the plinth base of the cabinet?

[@MyersMonroe]

Great eye - that does look suspiciously like a stamp but unfortunately it isn’t ... 😩. There is a concealed drawer at the bottom - so annoyed the key got lost ...

[@thomashverring9484]

Very interesting! And a great video, thank you. I have an interest in older furniture, and even older than that (I much enjoy Peter Follansbee's work). And I think the restoration process is very fascinating. Personally I wish i could make furniture like that, but my skills hasn't really reached that level just yet :^D All hand tools, of course-keeping it real! :^D I've subbed.

[@mytexasmarshmallow]

👏👏👏

[@MyersMonroe]

Talked a little bit about restoration 🤷‍♂️

[@ElsabethTinkham]

Unique means one of a kind. Things cannot be very unique. Being one of a kind is a binary solution set. It is or is not one of a kind. There's no very one of a kind. Just sayin'.