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.
Hillsdale College offers six 29- minute course lectures about Jane Austen and her first novel: Northanger Abbey.
“Her first novel—published shortly after her death—was Northanger Abbey, which parodies the romanticized fiction popular in Austen’s day. A close study of Jane Austen’s ebullient writings reveals timeless truths about human nature and illuminates the beauty of everyday life.”
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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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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