Introduction
In Edward Allen Poe’s beloved mystery,
The Purloined Letter, the French Chief of Police searches the apartments of a royal minister in vain for a letter stolen from royalty. In frustration, he states, “Any man is a dolt who permits a 'secret' to escape him in a search of this kind. The thing is so plain. There is a certain amount of bulk of space to be accounted for in every cabinet.”
This narrative trope of concealed materials reappears throughout literature and film. They reveal humankind’s remarkable ability to innovate for the sake of concealment and protection. Whether letters, keys, documents or more sentimental items, the practicality of stealthily concealing these articles or masking an item’s true purpose is accented by the simple satisfaction of storing something private away from prying eyes.
When viewing fine art and antiques, it is easy to become enraptured in their outward aesthetic beauty and forget to probe deeper. What appears to be a simple utilitarian piece of furniture, decorative box or walking stick may have secrets hiding in plain sight.
Hidden in Furniture
Just like the frustrated police chief in Poe’s tale, uncovering the secrets of
antique furniture with secret compartments can be difficult. Without knowing where to look, one might spend hours flitting their fingers along panels and carved motifs, searching for their mysteries. The suspense and challenges associated with concealed drawers and pigeonholes remain part of their lasting allure.
While most people today opt to store their cash, jewelry and other prized valuables in banks or safety-deposit boxes, these services were non-existent before the 19th century. Private individuals sought other means to protect their most important objects, and secret compartments in furniture became an essential way to guard against thieves or nosy people. Many of these hiding places took the form of false bottom drawers, hidden cabinets and cleverly placed hidden door panels. Others opted for safes or other locking boxes that, while less secretive, allowed a high level of security for their precious materials.
Within Nooks and Crannies: Secret Compartments in Furniture
Victorian Secret Bookcase. Circa 1880. M.S. Rau, New Orleans. M.S. Rau.
Standing at nine feet high and displaying all the aesthetic hallmarks of the Victorian era, this bookcase is an English masterpiece of cabinetmaking and mechanical engineering. The exquisite woodcarving creates a grand visual effect, and the cabinet appears to be the perfect piece for displaying a bibliophile’s collection. The inventive piece of furniture, however, actually boasts a myriad of secret compartments, with the built-in texts serving as ingeniously disguised doors.
A series of hidden levers and buttons open various doors to reveal multiple hidden compartments, including a working safe, that serve both as diverting amusements and as a way to conceal valuables and heirlooms. The lower cabinet opens to reveal a three-step staircase, allowing one to reach the top shelves with ease. Additionally, the central series of “texts” drop forward to reveal a cleverly disguised bar, providing any discerning gentleman the perfect opportunity for a nightcap.
Ebony and Brass Boulle Marquetry Casket by Maison Vervelle. Circa 1850. M.S. Rau.
Another example of furnishings with covert storage can be seen in this opulent Napoleon III-era casket by the renowned French firm Maison Vervelle. Functional and visually striking on its surface, the box is crafted of intricate ebony and brass marquetry, boasting stunning scrolls and flowers for a luxurious effect. At the top, a hinged lid displaying the original owner's monogram opens to reveal a small storage compartment lined with deep blue velvet. A closer inspection of the casket's interior, however, reveals that the rich kingwood veneer hides a secret compartment in the lower section. While the mechanisms utilized to conceal the niche may not be as inventive as that of the bookcase, the result is still effective, allowing the owner to obscure private materials away from curious eyes.
Behind Lock and Key: Complex Safes and Lockboxes
While some furniture items may surreptitiously hide sundries in secret compartments,
safes are less discreet. Their very function is to conceal and protect valuables behind lock and key. While safes and lockboxes may be more transparent in their intention to conceal, extremely complex locking mechanisms can create added layers of security that represent a secret all their own.
The earliest safe of record dates to the 13th century BCE. Uncovered in the tomb of Ancient Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses II, this early vault was comprised of a wooden system of interlocking pins; while somewhat archaic, the locking system was not unlike the pin tumbler locks of today. In the Middle Ages, lock boxes and safes were frequently used by churches to protect sacred vessels, parish records and other meaningful items. The 16th century brought the advent of sheet iron cashboxes, created by blacksmiths who recognized that improving the materials of lockboxes would allow greater security.
New locking mechanisms developed around the 18th century, requiring more complicated, complex processes for anyone seeking to gain access to the safe’s contents. This innovation, in combination with new industrial materials, allowed safes and other vaults to become indestructible and impenetrable without the proper keys and know-how. The rare Italian Baroque safe above, for example, is crafted of reinforced wrought iron. The double-door structure is enveloped in thick iron strapwork that surrounds its massive frame. Further, the safe is fitted with an exceptionally well-engineered five-way locking system. As an added security measure, one must know the secret, precise way in which to manipulate not one, but five unique iron keys, all of which have corresponding hidden keyholes that can only be revealed with the help of the accompanying lock pick. Once inside, the safe provides ample storage for one's money and other valuables. This type of vault is known as a “partners safe,” as it was most likely used by merchants and business owners of the period in place of banks. Its five unique keys would have required each business partner to be present to open the safe, thus keeping all parties honest.
Belgian Iron Safe. Circa 1850. M.S. Rau.
Multiple keys, however, represent only one method of assurance in keeping the contents of a locked repository hidden and protected. Into the 19th century and beyond, safe-making firms sought the next best practices in privacy, strength and impenetrability. A cast-iron safe from Belgium requires a four-letter combination code for entry, a precursor to a modern combination lock.
At the time of this safe’s creation circa 1850, France, Belgium and Portugal were considered leaders in the field of lock mechanics, combining new mechanisms with a letter code further securing the lock. This safe represents the safe-making legacy of Belgium, which brought together complex mechanisms, highly secure materials, remarkable artistry and ingenious design.
Crafty Cabinetmaker: The Illustrious Thomas Chippendale
Thomas Chippendale's The Gentleman and Cabinetmaker's Director, published 1754.
The Georgian period (1716-1830) brought new designs and aesthetic interests to England. The country’s rising, wealthy middle class formed the perfect clientele for new luxury furniture, including pieces that covertly conceal. One cabinetmaker, well-known for his use of secret compartments within his designs, remained popular beyond the rest: the inventive and innovative Thomas Chippendale. His name has become synonymous with a distinguishable style not because the furniture was made by him, but because of his foresight in publishing his incredible designs. In 1754, he published the first of three editions of The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director, the first catalogue of furniture design. This catalogue allowed patrons to pick out elements for their furniture and to have it custom-made for them by the Chippendale workshop. So popular were the designs with the wealthy class of the mid-18th century that soon other furniture makers were using The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director as a pattern book for their own shops, making Chippendale-style furniture ubiquitous in English furniture.
Mahogany Desk by Thomas Chippendale. Circa 1760. M.S. Rau.
As Chippendale’s designs continued to be produced and reproduced by other firms in England and beyond, the cabinetmaker’s proclivities for secret compartments within furniture likewise became more common. As a master of design and construction, Chippendale put as much effort into perfecting the interior of his pieces as he did the exterior. The show timber on this mahogany desk is the finest quality Cuban Mahogany. Chippendale’s innovative and signature red wash has preserved the timber to near perfection. Chippendale also included practical and innovative details, such as the desk’s extraordinary hinged table panels that allow its owner to leave their desk either covered or open. This feature would surely delight any man or woman who struggled to keep their work space tidy. In addition, the central detachable reading flap slides to show the front of the desk with three drawers, all with their original brass swan-neck handles.
Interior of the writing desk
Crafting such a complex piece of furniture required the skill and attentive workmanship of the finest cabinetmakers, and Thomas Chippendale’s groundbreaking vision created the most aesthetically and mechanically sound furniture of his time. This visionary was guided by the belief that all available space within a piece of furniture should be utilized to its fullest, whether through the addition of decorative moldings or secret compartments. Owners of Chippendale or Chippendale-style furniture can examine decorative elements and drawer panels to search for a hidden niche, camouflaged latch or false bottom, particularly in secrétaires, sideboards and chests. With this level of sophistication in form and function, in concert with the lasting impact of his style, it is no surprise that British historian Christopher Gilbert referred to Thomas Chippendale as “the Shakespeare of English furniture-makers.”
Hidden in Antiques
There is a certain novelty to finding the unexpected in small bits of everyday life. People tend to crave the unpredictable, fortuitous and exciting, as it adds more interest to the quotidian. As the early modern world began to take shape, rising wages and increased wealth in imperial nations expanded the clientele for small luxury objects — items that may have been considered frivolous in less prosperous times. These items did not only bring personal enjoyment; they were markers of status and demonstrations of disposable income and taste.
While the type of object could vary, the social capital that came from these antique treasures was amplified if the item was unique. Unexpected or hidden elements to these goods made a statement and provided a chance to show off the exciting aspects of the object.
Music Box
Ingenious miniature portable devices, musical snuff boxes such as this one were called carillons à musique.
Produced primarily in Switzerland, musical snuff boxes were once considered status symbols amongst the wealthy elite. A step above the traditional snuff box, musical boxes helped to influence the development and popularity of all music box production in the 19th century.
Silver-Gilt Musical Snuff Box by François Nicole. Circa 1820. M.S. Rau.
At first glance, this diminutive Swiss silver-gift snuff box piece appears to simply be an exquisite 19th-century snuff box, with Neoclassical-style chased and engraved borders of foliage and flowering thistles. A mere passerby may think that the case is purely intended to hold the owner’s snuff. A quick wind of the key, however, reveals the complex mechanism hidden inside. Crafted by the famed François Nicole, the musical movement plays two airs with a fine single-piece comb of 61 teeth. The movement is in exceptional condition, complete with its original key.
Swiss Gold Musical Snuff Box. Circa 1820. M.S. Rau.
Another example of these items can be seen here: a special Swiss gold music box, chased and engraved with a set of musical instruments surrounded by elaborate swirls of ornate foliage. Embossed with a delightful braided gold design, the two-compartment box features an exquisite oval agate key, which opens a recessed lock in the base of the box. Such a box would have been a prized possession and would have been able to fit neatly into a gentleman’s waistcoat pocket.
Confidential Confessions: Love Letters in Étui
The Love Letter by François Boucher. Circa 1750. The National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
For lovers in 18th century Europe, finding a way to secretly share messages was essential,
particularly for those that wanted to remain discreet in their affections. Letter writing, a somewhat lost art in present times, was an extremely popular pastime during that era and the primary form of communication. Romantic love letters played an important role in courtship and frequently drew on various literary inspirations. While discussions of more salacious details were rare, they were not nonexistent. A famous letter written by Mary Wollstonecraft to her lover William Godwin in October 1796 describes her desires:
I have felt it in your arms – hush! Let not the light see, I was going to say hear it – these confessions should only be uttered – you know where, when the curtains are up – and all the world shut out – Ah me!
For those who wished to conceal their sentiments, a solution was created to keep these romantic letters private for their lover's eyes only. Étui were small ornamental cases originally created for holding needles, cosmetics and other articles, but they quickly evolved to be used for other types of ephemera. Lovers or other cohorts frequently used etui to pass secret correspondence or billets-doux — "love notes" — undetected. Confidential notes would be tucked inside the box, which would then have been sealed with wax for optimal security.
Louis XVI-Period Vari-Coored Gold Étui. Circa 1780. M.S. Rau.
While these étuis contained stealthily concealed correspondence, their exteriors bore the luxurious marks of French craftsmanship.
The example above is crafted entirely of vari-colored gold and displays a neoclassical design. The dot and foliage motifs elevate the object, paying homage to the declarations of love it likely once held.
Secretly Salacious: Erotica in Plain Sight
For other lovers, sweet smuggled letters may not be enough to express more carnal desires of their affections.
Erotic art, while having the distinction of being created in different forms since the dawn of humankind in nearly every civilization around the globe, is frequently delegated to the storerooms of museums and galleries due to its salacious perception. Some items, however, may take the concealment upon themselves.
The ancient Greeks and Romans were prolific creators of erotica, emblazoning their homes and public spaces with frescoes, mosaics, ceramics and even ancient graffiti depicting scenes of lovers in embrace and often humorous illustrations of hyper-sexualized subjects. In the 1860s, large-scale excavations of Pompeii — a locale famous for its luxurious and libertine brothels in ancient times — revealed a massive cache of erotic Roman art, shocking Victorian scholars and archeologists into hiding these artifacts from the public eye.
Erotic Bedouin Bronze Figurine by Franz Bergmann. Circa 1890. M.S. Rau.
Though one might imagine that the Victorian and Edwardian eras were mostly devoid of sexual ephemera, the opposite is often true. A large volume and diversity of erotica was produced during this period. Artists of these eras, however, perhaps reacting to the prudish moral sensibilities of their time, began to explore ways of obscuring the true titillating nature of their sculptures from view. Austrian sculptor Franz Bergmann frequently hid racy imagery beneath the outer layer of his statues. His rendering above of a Bedouin man appears at first to depict him stroking a favored pet. Upon unlatching his robe, however, his arms open to reveal that this naughty man is engaged in a different sort of caress.
Burlwood Erotic Snuff Box. Circa 1830. M.S. Rau.
Other objects could be used to veil smutty materials, including this unassuming German snuffbox. Hidden in the compartment underneath a false bottom lies an erotic painting of a man and a woman in a sensual encounter. Utilizing inventive methods of concealment, the owner of this snuffbox could leave his companions none the wiser.
Hidden in Canes
Not unlike James Bond’s classified gadgets, canes have long served well-heeled gentlemen as both walking aids and, at times, hidden tools for a variety of purposes. What began in the distant past as a necessary tool for animal herders and intrepid travelers evolved into a modern symbol of power and prestige. Rulers throughout the ages, including the luxurious collections of the Ancient Egyptian pharaohs, have wielded staffs and canes. In the Middle Ages, the church began to use walking sticks to symbolize rank among its clergy. It was in the 17th century, however, when the walking stick truly became in vogue. Men and women alike accessorized with canes as a part of their daily attire. In the Victorian era (1837-1901), any groomed, distinguished gentlemen would not traverse the public arena without this stylish accessory. Consequently, the walking stick became a prevailing symbol of taste and class, consistently becoming more elaborate as the nobility clamored for the most distinguished, ornate cane to adorn their finery. These canes featured intricate enameling and jewel-encrusted knobs by specialized jewelers and
artisans.
The Industrial Revolution brought extraordinary developments in the realm of walking sticks that today can be assigned to two categories: system canes and weapon canes. While these canes may entice with their somewhat grand and gaudy exteriors, walking sticks of the 19th and 20th centuries can often disguise other functions - some benign and practical, others more sinister.
Multi-Purpose Staffs: Utilizing System Canes
System canes are the most highly collected types of canes, and thousands of designs exist for distinct purposes. A system cane describes a cane or walking stick that serves multiple purposes besides a mobility aid or fashion statement. Utilized in the same way as one might carry a purse or wallet today, wealthy gentlemen and ladies would have owned several canes to be used for different outings.
Horn-Handled Prohibition Flask Cane. Early 20th century. M.S. Rau, New Orleans.
A common type of system cane was created with the intention to conceal liquor during Prohibition. Though the production, importation and sale of alcoholic beverages was constitutionally prohibited in the United States between 1920 and 1933, many continued to indulge in its consumption. In fact, according to some studies, the majority of Americans disobeyed Prohibition. Between bootlegging at clandestine distilleries and the illegal importation of alcohol from foreign countries, Americans across the nation sought ways to discreetly hide their libations of choice.
These unassuming flask canes could hold liquor within the shaft, allowing the owner to imbibe their illicit beverage.
Devious and Deadly: Wielding Weapon Canes
Bone Flicker Cane. M.S. Rau.
While technically a form of system canes, weapon canes display a great range of diversity. During the 18th and 19th centuries, carrying a sword became less socially acceptable. Naturally, this did not dissuade those who preferred to be armed and those trained in swordsmanship. Not unlike the gadgets of James Bond, one could hide a weapon in plain sight by disguising it as part of one's wardrobe or concealing it within a fashionable walking stick. It was also not uncommon for a lady to conceal a weapon in her walking stick or parasol, as it was even less socially acceptable for a woman to be armed.
Perhaps the most common kind of weapon cane was the sword cane. Particularly deadly were those that contained
dangerous quatrefoil blades when unsheathed from their wooden shafts. At the time of these canes’ inception, it was exceedingly difficult for a surgeon to repair the extensive bodily damage inflicted by a four-sided blade, meaning almost certain death for anyone attacked with this weapon.
Remington Gun Cane. Dated 1872. M.S. Rau.
Even greater innovation can be seen in the integration of firearms and walking sticks. When the John F. Thomas of Remington Arms Company perfected the gun cane, it quickly became popular in the United States. He received a patent for his rifle cane in 1858, which contained a fully functional percussion fired single-shot rifle. The design was an overnight success. A characteristic that made the Remington rifle cane unique from previous designs was that its entire firing mechanism and striker were completely encased and hidden inside the upper shaft of the cane. In the example above, the famous Remington dog head surmounts the ebonized wood shaft of this single-shot gun cane by the Remington Arms Company. Considered by many as the finest gun canes ever made, these weapon canes were made beginning in 1858 after a patent by John F. Thomas and included a push-button trigger. Remington discontinued them in 1910, and Remington canine-form gun canes remain exceedingly rare today, as it is estimated that only 1,000 were ever produced.
