Secret Drawers and Hidden Compartments
Before the invention of safes, it was common practice to hide valuable possessions and important papers in the secret drawers and compartments within furniture such as chests, bureaus, desks and cabinets.
As the latest technique for creating a hiding place quickly became known, numerous and ingenious ways were invented to trick a potential thief. In furniture from the 17th and 18th centuries, one can often find a hidden drawer behind an obvious one, or beneath an ink-well; not infrequently a box has a false bottom. Hiding-places were often contrived behind the pigeon-holes or drawers of cabinets; the pilasters dividing these pigeon-holes were sometimes hollow, forming slender concealments for papers. In many cases a secret spring had to be touched before the cavity was revealed.
The Finsbury desk drawers conceal hidden compartments.
A wonderful example of a piece of furniture with such secret drawers and compartments is The Bureau du Roi at the royal palace of Versailles ? one of the most expensive pieces of furniture ever made. One of its more ingenious mechanism's was to allow the housemaid to open the drawers containing the ink-wells from the side to replenish them, when the front of the desk was still locked!
Concealed behind the window of Villa Cornaro Jewellery Box is a hidden drawer.
The creation of secret drawers within furniture has been a source of interest and delight for David Linley from the beginning of his career as a cabinet maker. This passion was sparked by David's father once challenging him to find a secret draw... and he succeeded but only after a very long and determined search!
El Laguito contains a hidden drawer for cigar bands.
"The inclusion of a secret drawer or compartment allows a person to interact with a piece of furniture, not just in the visual sense but in a physical way as well. ?It adds wit and an elegant humour to a piece."
David Linley
LINLEY's hidden drawers and secret compartments are best illustrated in our Collector's Pieces and Architectural Boxes and their ingenious and inventive design is often born from a collaboration between the designer and the craftsman. Examples can also be found in some of the furniture collections available in our shops and are often included in private bespoke commissions. Explore some of the examples that we have online or alternatively come in to either of the shops and a member of the LINLEY team will happily show you some examples.
The Dogana desk contains numerous secret drawers
