Drop-front secretary (secrétaire à abattant) c. 1790 - 1795

Adam Weisweiler created this drop-front secretary, or secrétaire à abattant, sometime in the late 18th century. It gives us a glimpse into the world of elite taste and global trade in pre-Revolutionary France. The secretary is made of wood, ebony, and gilded bronze, but it’s the Japanese lacquer panels that really catch the eye. These panels, likely imported by the Dutch East India Company, were highly prized and incorporated into luxury goods for the French aristocracy. The exotic imagery of the panels ––with its stylized landscapes –– spoke to the era's fascination with the Orient. It also subtly signaled the owner’s wealth and their access to global markets. But beyond aesthetics, this piece is important for understanding the social and economic structures of the time. By studying archival records, trade routes, and even fashion trends, we can better understand the complex networks that made such objects possible, and the values that they embodied.