#RijksmuseumUnlocked

In the 18th century luxury desks had many hidden compartments. Normally these drawers remain hidden for museum visitors. For once our curators open these secret compartments. Watch it in the new episode of #RijksmuseumUnlocked 🔓.
www.rijksmuseum.nl

[@girlnorthof60]

My father, a cabinet-maker, built me a writing desk with open pigeon-hole compartments on top and 3 drawers under the writing level. Each drawer has a hidden compartment in the rear. They're empty, except for a note that states "I had no riches to hide in here." 🤷‍♀️ (He died last Feb. at the age of 91)

[@williammarkhart7047]

That's great. May he rest in peace.

[@MaggyShannon]

I think perhaps he did have riches to leave to you, the kind that cannot tarnish or fade. The wonderful desk surely embodies his love for you.

[@girlnorthof60]

@@williammarkhart7047 Thank you William, very kind of you to say.

[@girlnorthof60]

@@MaggyShannon That it does, along with the knowledge of carpentry /confidence with tools he taught me. I'm so grateful. That little desk speaks volumes.

[@johnathonmullis4234]

I’ve made and spent millions. I’ve bought more houses for women than Johnny Carson. Money comes and goes but what your father left you is worth more than all the riches. He put his love in it and wanted you have a piece of him. A father’s love often goes unspoken and unnoticed until he’s gone. Losing your dad is tough so remember he wouldn’t want y’all sad and hurting. God bless you and yours and look after yall during this difficult time.

[@blschafer4310]

Gorgeous!! So much better than the compressed sawdust and contact paper 'furniture' we have nowadays.

[@19Bmiller]

Very well resented. The skill of this family is truly amazing. And yes we have a dresser from the late 1800's with concealed compartments.

[@VF-84]

I know it’s 4 years after this posted but I just have to say that desk has to be the most beautiful piece of furniture I have ever seen hands down. I can’t even imagine how long that took to make. The amount of inlays are insane.

[@vickiefowler1429]

Having been to the Rijksmuseum, I must say that their furniture exhibits are overwhelming. There are hundreds of pieces like these on display! However, you don’t get to see the secret compartments like in the video. There’s usually just a card that describes them. It’s impressive - but, just wait till you see the China and Ceramics exhibits! And the paintings!

[@vivianvergal9618]

What a beautiful piece. I wonder if things ever got forever lost or forgotten on those secret compartments...

[@JoseighBlogs]

Just imagine ~ There could be secret drawers yet not discovered in that writing desk.

[@vivianvergal9618]

@@JoseighBlogs that'd be lovely

[@leerayburn2301]

@@JoseighBlogs I do believe they Xray them now to see where they are.

[@alainportant6412]

Some black dude left his crack pipe in there and never retrieved it.

[@jillyjills1]

I have a beautiful mahogany box, with a writing slope. It has five secret compartments and every time I show it to someone it still takes me about 20 minutes to work out how to open them

[@Garland67]

These desks are stunning. Incredible to have the original keys!

[@jarnopit8934]

That is phenomenal. I wish I could afford something like that

[@katerinadicamella]

Me too, absolutely a master piece out of this world!!! I was overwhelmed, watching with my jaw dropped!!

[@fixt100]

The cost of a desk like that would be enough to cure the remaining people who suffer from leprosy (desk is in the millions) makes you wonder why theres still leprosy then doesnt it?

[@zaphoidbeeblebrox1809]

@@fixt100 Value is around 3 to 5 million US Dollars.

[@liamc1102]

@@fixt100 Jesus is the answer.

[@lisaspears7212]

That is magnificent.... absolutely gorgeous. A true piece of art and master workmanship.

[@ichabodon]

Craftsmanship at its highest. Beautiful

[@karinemerah931]

Magnifique, merci d'ouvrir les cachettes et tiroirs pour nous!

[@petergorgels5716]

Amazing, those little secrets ❤️

[@LJB103]

Excellent video and extraordinary furniture.

[@MaggyShannon]

Thank you dear Rijks Museum for this very interesting video. What a beautiful desk! It was surely made by a true artist. How ingenious are the little drawers, and how glorious the use of materials in the inlay. I envy you a little, working among such wonderful objects. Fifty years ago, my dear grandparents visited the Rijks Museum and returned with faces alight as they described what they saw. I hope I will someday visit you myself. I wish for you all the very best.

[@id5girl]

Oh my! I just got my eyes opened!! How beautiful these pieces are. I am astonished how many hidden mechanisms there are. I have studied interior design and there was no coverage like this. I am definitely thinking of booking a trip to Holland lol Forgot to say thank you RijksmuseumUnlocked lol

[@robertballuumm730]

Exquisite workmanship and ingenuity. An absolute piece of art.

[@florencerozner2344]

Desk and writing stands beautiful thank you for sharing

[@cliffcampbell8827]

Absolutely stunning artistry. I prefer this kind over today's digital form and definitely over "modern" art.

[@JoseighBlogs]

_Incredible historic Dutch carpentry_ 😍 _So beautiful_ 😍 _So cleverly and so ingeniously crafted_ 😍 _Thank you_ 😍

[@olafgogmo5426]

Roentgen was German.

[@JoseighBlogs]

@@olafgogmo5426 Yes ~ He was German on the outside ~ But, he was really in his heart 'a secret Dutch person' on the inside, which only his wife knew the special key of her flirtatious coquetry to unlock to persuade her loving husband to admit to 'his hidden secret'. Ha! Ha! Ha! 💋

[@RobotronSage]

@@JoseighBlogs no

[@JoseighBlogs]

@@RobotronSage Why do you say "No"?

[@monkeygraborange]

Utterly spectacular. Thank you so much for preserving and maintaining these magnificent pieces. If only they could speak, what stories they might tell.

[@thijsdejongh6192]

My desk has a secret place, keeping my stash in there 💶

[@kay-vo6cs]

You should leave a note hidden for future generations.

[@suntzu6122]

More videos like this! Amazing!!

[@shelleyharris165]

Magnificent. The beauty. Key's. Compartments . So lovely 😇✌️💪😎🕊️🙌🤲🌍🎼🌄🙏💛💙☮️✝️

[@amyp2942]

Nice video. When did the archdiocese of Trier dispose of this piece? Not wise to reveal hidden places in home.

[@dutch_blades]

I wish they were looking for conservators... I love the Rijksmuseum and spending your life preserving and maintaining items suchs as these for generations to come would be amazing. Pierre Kintzing's mechanisms in Roentgen's desks is something many modern day craftsmen with modern tools wouldn't be able to replicate; amazing work and thanks for uploading! My own desk (Chippendale but not actually made by Thomas Chippendale sadly) features two hidden drawers currently housing fountain pens and custom folding knives.

[@johnschultz8906]

I've always thought craftsmen with this kind of ability are some of the best artists ever

[@Jeezy11]

Even my newer dresser and nightstand has a secret drawer glad it’s still around

[@thierrydecker8110]

One of the few advertisements I've had on youtube that I actually thought was interesting!

[@ericwilliams7374]

Wow. I have become obsessed with writing desks. Being a wood worker myself, I have to try and copy one of these beautiful pieces of art!!!!!!

[@si_vis_amari_ama]

I visited the magnificent Rijksmuseum during my too-short stay in Amsterdam. Its was one of the best places I have ever been; I particularly liked the perfection-furniture and metal objects. Its worth a visit to Amsterdam just to go to this museum. You could easily visit daily for a week in order to spend adequate time in each part. Its huge.

[@kaydonahue]

Yes! Love letters!

[@robertbeaty4909]

I've been restoring and repairing antique furniture by trade for almost forty years. What I've seen.......sometimes I get the opportunity to build a piece for a client and I always try to incorporate a hidden compartment into whatever it might be.

[@turbo.panther]

If I did have a secret drawer in a desk, I wouldn't be telling youtube about it!!

[@CyberBeep_kenshi]

I have a writing box that indeed has a secret panel with 3 small drawers. Got it through auction, just so much fun. It currently holds the key to the box :) It's from about 1850 as far as i know. Been heavily used and been doing some polishing etc. I do actually keep my mail in there:)

[@brianredban9393]

Don't polish it you could devalue it that way

[@nancyyonce2906]

BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU

[@chrismalcomson7640]

I built a miniature cabinet in the Dutch style with 15 secret compartments. Some are just hidden behind drawers but the hardest are mechanical ones. Its one thing designing it but quite another building it because you have to find the room for the springs and levers.

[@origirox]

Thank you for sharing that information.

[@pelusa5970]

Wuoooo.... Eso es un sueño!!! 🥺✨🙌🏻

[@jemaltedoradze098]

Fantastic secreter ! ..

[@BuriedFlame]

_"And this button releases the spring-loaded boxing glove!"_

[@AdelaideBeemanWhite]

- Underrated comment.

[@tin5048]

The things before are chef's 💋, from the table to the keys ro how its designed and decorated

[@jeffbecker8716]

My grandfather's desk has a hidden compartment behind the center section. I keep his wallet along with those of my father, great grandfather, and great grandmother (mostly school photos of my dad and uncle) in it. No money, just all of their old ID and personal cards.

[@girlnorthof60]

True riches... a time capsule you embrace & respect. I would love to find such riches in a hidden compartment. 💞

[@musicismymind88]

If I had a desk with a secret drawer I'd hide in it.

[@brittanymazza1659]

That's a beautiful 😍 desk

[@danhorson4947]

Lemarchand's cube?... 😵‍💫

[@maximhollandnederlandthene7640]

You could give more information about the size of furniture, People were shorter that time so was the furniture fitted to the people that used it.

[@bigbob1699]

Do you know how long it took to make that desk and how many craftsmen?

[@kohinoorsandhu6796]

I would like a desk with hidden compartments but I don’t have anything to keep in it😕

[@h.r.puffinstuff431]

I have a secretary that has eight hidden drawers and pull outs. There are a few papers in them, a roll of silver coins, 2 gold coins, and a plastic telephone booth that was part of a FisherPrice little people village set ( this is the most valuable thing to me).

[@d.l.l.6578]

I have a blue glass desk from IKEA with no compartments at all.

[@rubengalusso]

Excelente video, una maravilla los antiguos ebanistas

[@jason9035]

Imagine how much that desk would cost today assuming any modern craftsman could pull it off . Could possibly be a million dollars in today's money.

[@BrendanLightfoot]

We still do them, and you are about right on the price, as they take years to build. I stagger at the fact these were all completed with only hand tools.

[@mudbouggin7563]

In a video about hidden drawers, you didn't show more than half the ones you opened

[@Endermanso]

I keep the keys of my other pieces of furniture in a hidden drawer i putted in my bedside table

[@ЛарисаБровикова-ф1п]

😂😂😂🎉🎉🎉😍🤦‍♀️

[@amandamiduski]

Yes

[@catsandcarsringtailgang6188]

Coffee table has secret compartment. I keep a .36 cal 6rnd. 1861 navy steel frame Revolver in there. LOADED! (Because an unloaded gun is not ............. a gun!)

[@anonymousonlineuser6543]

Too short......

[@Smudgie]

As it's used, I'm prepared to offer €50. Provided you clean off the inkstains.

[@donnadurant4000]

Lol.

[@marieravening927]

I'll double that on condition it's shipped, intact, to Western Australia.

[@Larkinchance]

busy

[@vidkunv.spalden5731]

mobelkunst auf nonplusultra qualitat

[@markgoddard2560]

Does every beautiful thing have to be drowned in awful music?

[@richardmckrell4899]

Do we really need a close up of putting on gloves?