SDR, I think the original...
SDR, I think the original poster may be French or Belgian. In Dutch (as in French) we sometimes refer to certain "desks" as "secretaire". I am used to this term being used for writing tables that have a "built -up providing storage possibilities" mounted right on top of the table top. Often this storage tries to keep stuff stored out- of- sight (think e.g. roll-tops, pull down, or simply closed drawers).
Often these tables were found in homes, as places where correspondence took place (stamps & enveloppes were stored there), as did smalltime household bookkeeping (and resulting paperwork).
Does the term (or this type of desk) not exist in English ? That's interesting. Alternatively, what do you guys call it ?
PS: I added a simple google search result for the term "secretaire" below, I think that even a quick glance will give you a good idea of the sort of desks i am talking about.
http://www.google.be/images?hl=nl&q=SECRETAIRE&rlz=1W1GPEA_nl&um=1&ie=UT...
What fun!
A glossary thread.
In the world of antiques, a bureau is a chest of drawers, not a desk.
Unless is it a bureau bookcase, which is a chest of drawers with a bookcase stepped back on top.
When you add an upper part to a desk, usually with little cubbyholes and tiny drawers, it becomes a secretary. The English term secretary comes from the French Secretaire a Abattant.
There are also a couple of other terms we use, drop-front desk or slant-front desk, which is what I would call the OP's desk.
bureau ..
wow, such a massive difference for a tiny word in different countries ! In Dutch the word "bureau" is very widely used (so it does not give you any information at all). It can mean as much as :
1.) = office desk (of any form really, can even be a basic dining table used as a work space)
2.) = office space (e.g. room in your house used as an office)
3.) = organisational, as the "B" in F.B.I.
4.) = political, meeting of specific group of members
.. I can't believe what a difference in reference a simple word can have, even within key European countries ! So much for searchin g on key terms, then.
I think this somehow is a bit similar to Killians tip to search on the term "booglamp" for "arc lamp" earlier. (In Dutch it is called "booglamp" as well.) Might not be such a bad idea to check on multiple key words (esp. when targetting over-seas- searches) after all.
exactly Ite...dont get stuck...
exactly Ite...dont get stuck down with the few standard words, learn the key words for everything, change from your default google to the one of the country where the piece originated, find out the words used to describe the item in that country and you can get better hits while searching items.
Good advice.
If you are in America, and you are searching for a chest, like what you would use in a bedroom to put your clothes in, it is called a bureau. Americans would never put a "bureau" in an office.
Even to confuse the issue further, we (America) have what we call a "chest on chest". This is also called a tall chest or high boy, but all three terms are interchangeable. It is usually understood, however, that a "highboy" is a tall chest mounted on Queen Anne legs, where a "chest on chest" is a stepped back set of drawers mounted on a chest of drawers. Crazy, I know.
I will google and post pictures of the distinctions. It is so funny that UK people call a bureau a desk. Why is that?
Does anybody know?
Riki,
We also have a...
Riki,
We also have a chest on chest but highboy is known as a tall boy over here. Bureau is french for office and these pieces are a hidden desk / office. Im guessing that why the name is used....and to be honest I have no idea why a bureau relates to something you keep clothes in that one doesn't make sense to me.
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