Ontwerp voor een secretaire, zij-, driekwart en frontaal aanzicht, met daaronder plattegronden c. 1852

This meticulous design for a cabinet desk, or secretaire, was rendered by B. Winghofer in precise lines and watercolor washes. It is more than just a pretty picture. It’s a proposal, a business plan for a piece of furniture. The design speaks to the material possibilities of high-end cabinetmaking. The drawing emphasizes the textures and patterns of wood grain, suggesting an interest in luxurious materials like exotic hardwoods or richly figured veneers. The secretaire includes both drawers and a fall-front writing surface, alluding to a complex, time-consuming production process. The design shows us how high-end furniture like this was conceived. Consider how many steps would have been involved to turn this design into reality: the felling and seasoning of lumber, the careful joinery, the hardware, and the finishing. Each of these phases would have involved specialized labor. Furniture like this was thus a collaborative project, and ultimately, an expression of wealth and status.