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18th-century French Mechanical Table

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.

Posted in 18th Century France, Georgian Life, Jane Austen's World | Tagged animated video, Historic furniture, J. Paul Getty Museum, marguetry, mechanical furniture | 20 Comments

20 Responses

on July 5, 2012 at 23:46 Nancy

I wish Jane Austen could have owned one of those, though she did pretty well on her portable writing desk.
I love that table.
- on July 5, 2012 at 23:50 Vic
  
  I agree, Nancy. She deserved something that pretty, practical and portable!
on July 6, 2012 at 00:04 Kathleen Baldwin

This is so cool. What a neat little desk. I’d like one. Thanks for sharing the video with us.
on July 6, 2012 at 00:39 Joan Bryan's

I want one! So beautiful and so useful!
on July 6, 2012 at 00:41 Joan Bryan's

My surname is Bryans -sorry my computer corrected it!
on July 6, 2012 at 01:17 Adriana Zardini

Such an interesting post Vic! Thanks for sharing!
Adriana
on July 6, 2012 at 01:26 Amy Peveto (@AmyPeveto)

How nifty! Do you know if they still make desks like this? I’d love to have one.
on July 6, 2012 at 03:05 gio

What a beautiful and cool desk! Thanks for sharing!
on July 6, 2012 at 04:25 suzan

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.
on July 6, 2012 at 08:46 Patty

This is the table where you can safely store your love letters.
on July 6, 2012 at 08:56 lucienne machado

Muito linda!Eu quero uma… :)
Adorei o post Vic!
on July 6, 2012 at 08:58 Theo Shatagin

Thank you for introducing me to the Getty’s education site and the videos.
- on July 6, 2012 at 09:46 Vic
  
  You’re welcome. I enjoyed the sound effects that accompanied the narration as I learned how this fascinating table was put together.
on July 6, 2012 at 11:05 authorsanon

Reblogged this on Bustling along bookshelves . . . and commented:
A wondrous mechanism…just what I want on my Wishlist….
on July 6, 2012 at 11:52 Diane D - Florida

How clever was the designer of this!!! It’s gorgeous, and I want one too. :-)
on July 6, 2012 at 13:25 Sophy

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.
on July 9, 2012 at 04:39 Karen Field

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.
on July 19, 2012 at 16:36 bluffkinghal

So many uses for one single article. They did make use of space!
on August 9, 2012 at 08:29 ippokampos

Reblogged this on Ippokampos Afroulis Recounting… and commented:
awesome!!!!
on September 4, 2012 at 13:20 Regency Work Tables: A Regency Lady at “Work” « Jane Austen's World

[…] showed how the hidden mechanisms worked and how easily the table could be moved from place to place. Click on this link to view it. Share with others:Like this:LikeBe the first to like […]

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