July 5, 2012 by Vic
This beautiful marquetry table transforms into a desk with a turn of a key. This short animated film shows you how it operates and how an elegant French lady in the 18th century would have used it. Enjoy.
Exquisite marquetry of this French mechanical table.
Read about metamorphic furniture (which is different from mechanical furniture) at this link.
ATTENTION JASNA MEMBERS: Online access to talks from this year's AGM is open. For $99 U.S., you can watch the plenary sessions until February 28. Offerings include Devoney Looser's "Sisters in the Arts" and the Sunday Brunch performance which hilariously dramatized some of Austen's favorite music; Breakout Sessions, including Lisa Brown's talk on Ignatius Sancho's Country Dances, "Composed by an African" and Brenda Cox's presentation on "Satirical Cartoons and Jane Austen's Church of England," and short versions of talks including "Jane Austen on TikTok," and "The World of Jane Austen Soundtracks"; Special Interest Sessions such as Georgie Castilla's fascinating "Adapting Austen to Comics" and talks on Regency dress and social dance; a stage production of "Lover's Vows" which we did not get to see at the AGM, and much more!
More information is available at jasna.org/conferences-events/agms/agm-updates/ . If you're not a JASNA member yet, why not join and support their work in celebrating Austen's life and works!
The Life and Legacy of Enslaved Virginian Emily Winfree: A Review by Vic
In the past year, this blog has posted a number of articles and book reviews on Black History and Slave History in Georgian England. This book, written by Jan Meck and Virginia Refo, continues in America from the 19th to early 20th century. Find Vic's review on the Jane Austen's World History page at this link. Order the book at U.S. Amazon.
Highly Recommended a New Book! Bath -An Adumbration in Rhyme, edited by Ben Wiebracht
Read the review of the book, edited by series editor Ben Wiebracht here.
Click to order the book on Amazon. US and UK Amazon links. U. S. Amazon or UK Amazon
The neglected tombstone found in an overgrown burial ground said:
“Sacred to the memory of His Excellency C.J. Austen, Esq.,
Champion of the Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath,
Rear Admiral of the Red and Commander-in-Chief of Her Majesty’s Naval Forces on the East India and China Station,
Rear Admiral Charles Austen CB
Died off Prome, the 7th October 1852, while in command of the Naval Expedition on the river Irrawady against the Burmese Forces, aged 73 years.”
The grave after restoration
Read the full article in The Sunday Times. June 27, 2021.
Click on image to read the story.
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Jane Austen's World 
I wish Jane Austen could have owned one of those, though she did pretty well on her portable writing desk.
I love that table.
I agree, Nancy. She deserved something that pretty, practical and portable!
This is so cool. What a neat little desk. I’d like one. Thanks for sharing the video with us.
I want one! So beautiful and so useful!
My surname is Bryans -sorry my computer corrected it!
Such an interesting post Vic! Thanks for sharing!
Adriana
How nifty! Do you know if they still make desks like this? I’d love to have one.
What a beautiful and cool desk! Thanks for sharing!
That was an absolutely gorgeous desk. I’d love the privacy and secret compartments. The colors are amazing. The designs so detailed. I can add to the above – I wish I had one.
This is the table where you can safely store your love letters.
Muito linda!Eu quero uma… :)
Adorei o post Vic!
Thank you for introducing me to the Getty’s education site and the videos.
You’re welcome. I enjoyed the sound effects that accompanied the narration as I learned how this fascinating table was put together.
Reblogged this on Bustling along bookshelves . . . and commented:
A wondrous mechanism…just what I want on my Wishlist….
How clever was the designer of this!!! It’s gorgeous, and I want one too. :-)
How charming! What an exquisite little piece of work. Jane would not have been able to afford it, but her cousin Eliza would, and perhaps saw one like this when she lived in France.
I love the idea of what this writing desk concealed for the writer. I suppose the writer kept the key on her chattelaine (sp? so as to not lose it.
So many uses for one single article. They did make use of space!
Reblogged this on Ippokampos Afroulis Recounting… and commented:
awesome!!!!
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