![]() This Queen Anne-era walnut secrétaire would likely have been used often by its owners and thus served as the perfect spot for a “hidden in plain sight” plot twist. They soon became the focal point of the manor, serving as statements of culture and education. For the wealthiest households, it proved to be the preferred type of writing furniture design. The secretary bookcase, or secrétaire, was an innovative piece of writing furniture introduced in the early 18th century. No one would guess it was really secret compartment furniture that had extra storage space. This secretaire, from the front, appears to be a high-end, but typical piece that would have been owned by a wealthy family. Read on to learn more about these fascinating pieces. Our gallery houses several high-quality pieces of antique furniture that offer a lovely statement to a room at first glance - but some of them also feature exceptionally clever secret hiding spots and hidden storage space. A secrétaire could be hiding one secret a sideboard could be hiding a score! Secret compartment storage in furniture plans could be incredibly complicated and require a highly skilled craftsman to execute. ![]() A seemingly average piece of antique furniture could be sitting in its owner's home for years, only for secret compartments to be found when it is sent to a restorer or cabinetmaker for reconditioning. The Chief obviously knew little about these ingenious demonstrations of the cabinetmaker's skill. ![]() There is a certain amount of bulk of space to be accounted for in every cabinet.” Frustrated, he states, “Any man is a dolt who permits a 'secret' to escape him in a search of this kind. In the mystery, The Purloined Letter by Edgar Allen Poe, the French Chief of Police searches the apartments of a royal minister for a letter stolen from royalty, but in vain. And rightly so - the possibility of discovering a long-forgotten treasure or solving a mystery is almost universally alluring. There is something timeless in the drama of finding hidden treasures such as large sums of money, heirloom jewels, silver, a missing will, or a written confession of a crime committed many years ago. Secret compartments in furniture design have been the subject of literary plot twists for centuries. Having furniture with hidden compartments was one method of protecting one's most valuable possessions against thieves - secret safes, false bottom drawers, hidden cabinets, and cleverly placed hidden door panels were all used to baffle outsiders. These days most people opt to store their cash and most prized valuables in banks or safety deposit boxes, but before the turn of the 19th century, neither of these services existed. In the film series The Chronicles of Narnia (2005, 2008, and 2010), the main characters enter a fairytale world through a wardrobe.Above: A rare 19th century Italian desk, also known as King Carlo Alberto's desk, with several secret compartments. ![]() In recent years, there have been examples of several companies specializing in making hidden rooms, as well as private individuals who have made improvised solutions, either for fun or for security in case of burglary. In 1978, in connection with the police investigation of Hans Otto Meyer, a secret room was found where Meyer kept weapons for what he claimed was a secret emergency preparedness organization under the Norwegian Armed Forces' intelligence services associated with NATOs Stay Behind. In the 1500s and 1600s, hidden rooms were created in British castles to hide Catholic priests these were referred to as priest holes.ĭuring the prohibition era, there were several examples of hidden rooms being used for storing alcohol or as entrances to secret bars. ![]() The term hidden compartment can also refer to smaller storage places for valuables and personal belongings in furniture (such as cabinet compartments), trap compartments in vehicles, false bottoms in containers, and various other concealment devices. Hidden rooms can for example be used as a refuge, media room, larder or wine cellar. Hidden rooms are often accessed via a hidden door, which for example can be camouflaged as a bookshelf or a trapdoor in the floor. A hidden door between the library and changing rooms at Mottisfont Abbey in England.Ī hidden compartment or secret compartment is a compartment whose existence or access is not obvious at first glance, and can be used as a hiding place for objects or sometimes even for people.Ī hidden compartment where people can stay is usually referred to as a hidden room or secret room, and can range from parts of small wardrobes or closets under staircases to entire basements or even large mountain complexes. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |