Architect’s Table (Germany), 1780–95

Rectangular form, two shades of mahogany, solid and veneer, on four square tapering legs with horizontally ribbed bronze inlays, square bronze cuffs, acorn feet. Hinged table top with bronze edging and automatically emerging book-rest can be tilted and raised to various levels. One wide drawer in table skirt with ribbed bronze border and two bronze swag handles contains sliding leather-covered writing surface over three inner rear drawers and two sliding covered drawers in front, one of which is compartmented and can be pulled out through side of large drawer. Above each leg on skirt, a square cuff, three vertical grooves and a rosette; bronze beading frames central panel on each side. Horizontal splits through top in four places, badly scratched in upper left corner, other minor scratches, missing beading, missing pieces of wood.