Cabinet of Curiosities

This desk and bookcase was conceived in discussions with my client as a cabinet of curiosities to house his collection of unusual objects. The first requirement was that the overall case would contain specific compartments of certain dimensions. We chose an English desk and bookcase as the jumping off point, and then I elaborated the design from there. Ball and claw feet were one requirement. Nickel plated hardware was another. Walnut was the wood of choice. Beyond that I had free rein to decide on the decorative details.

I had in my mind a Georgian secretary that had been pictured many years ago in a magazine. I tracked the photos down, and they gave me some bold ideas for the interior. I ordered some burl veneer from Certainly wood, and was amazed, when it arrived, to find a knot close to the edge of each leaf that looked exactly like an owl's eye. This, of course, became a major feature of every panel. In fact, when the veneer was all finished and scraped smooth, it appeared that there was an owl flying straight out in the center of the fall front panel.

Again, being based on an English piece, all the moldings were veneered. This was quite a task. The front panels, from the bottom frame drawer front, to the fall front and the upper doors, feature interlocking strapwork inlay.

The decorative surrounds to all the compartments range from Moorish and Medieval cloister arches, Roman aqueducts, and in the top center, an elliptical satinwood arch from the Alhambra palace. The central prospect door features my client's monogram, and behind the door is an ebony moon arch.

Hidden behind every element of the desk are multiple secret compartments, some with shelves, and some with small drawers.

Building this piece occupied me for two years.