Drop-front desk (secrétaire à abattant or secrétaire en cabinet) 1768 - 1778

Martin Carlin crafted this drop-front desk, or secrétaire à abattant, in France during the late 18th century. It is made from wood, marble, and Sèvres porcelain plaques. The desk embodies the opulence of the French aristocracy. The porcelain plaques exemplify the prevailing taste for elaborate decoration among the elite. Note the gilded bronze ormolu mountings, these were status symbols, reflecting a culture of conspicuous consumption. The desk served as a functional piece and a statement of refinement. Its presence in a room signaled the owner's elevated social standing and cultivated taste. Understanding the world of this object requires us to investigate not just the object, but the patterns of patronage, workshop practices, and the prevailing social values of the time. By examining these social and institutional contexts, we can gain a richer appreciation of the object's place in history.