An unusual German flame mahogany mechanical writing table, Potsdam first quarter 19th century

the upper section with a raised superstructure centred by a cupboard door with an oval swivelling mirror plate, enclosing two shelves flanked by two further drawers with recessed demi-lune panels centred by a seated female sphinx on a brickwork plinth, the lower section with two sliding panels enclosing two drawers and pigeonholes, above a frieze drawer with a hinged writing flap and various removeable compartments for writing implements, above two further drawers, on square tapering legs

COMPARATIVE LITERATURE

Achim Stiegel, Berliner Möbelkunst, Berlin, 2003, p. 279

A virtually identical mechanical writing table was formerly in the collection of the Landgraf von Hessen and now in the Kunsthandel Museum of Berlin. These, like their bonheur-du-jour counterparts were very much in vogue for their many drawers and secret compartments.