A French Fall-Front Desk

An 18th century French Louis XV period cherrywood fall-front desk standing on elegant Cabriole legs, the simple façade fitted with two shallow drawers that support the fall, a third 'dummy' drawer conceals a secret compartment. The desk front opens to reveal a writing surface and a bank of internal drawers and pigeonholes, a slide opens the secret compartment. Note the exquisite, original 'button' drawer pulls. Area of Isle de France (Greater Paris), circa 1770.