Secretaire Montigny 1775 - 1800

Crafted by Philippe Claude Montigny, this "Secretaire" is a testament to the French cabinet-making tradition. Its wooden surface is punctuated by locks and keys which are not just functional elements; they are powerful symbols, evoking the ancient Roman deity Janus, the god of doorways and beginnings. Janus, with his two faces looking to both past and future, embodies transitions and guarded secrets. The keys here, beyond their practical use, connect us to this deeper symbolic realm. Think of Janus's presence in medieval reliquaries, where he watches over sacred relics, or in Renaissance emblems, as a guardian of knowledge. This connection highlights the profound human desire to secure our secrets, our histories, and our most private thoughts. By extension the secretaire becomes an object freighted with unspoken narratives and hidden truths. It’s a cultural memory, a repository not just for belongings but for the weight of personal and collective histories.