A seemingly average piece of antique furniture could be sitting in its owner's home for years, only for secret compartments to be found when it is sent to a restorer or cabinetmaker for reconditioning. The Chief obviously knew little about these ingenious demonstrations of the cabinetmaker's skill. There is a certain amount of bulk of space to be accounted for in every cabinet.” In frustration, he states, “Any man is a dolt who permits a 'secret' to escape him in a search of this kind. In the mystery The Purloined Letter by Edgar Allen Poe, the French Chief of Police searches the apartments of a royal minister for a letter stolen from royalty, but in vain.
And rightly so - the possibility of discovering a long-forgotten treasure or solving a mystery is almost universally alluring. There is something timeless in the drama of finding hidden treasures such as large sums of money, heirloom jewels, silver, a missing will, or a written confession of a crime committed many years ago. Secret compartments in furniture have been the subject of literary plot twists for centuries. Secret compartments in furniture were one method of protecting one's most valuable possessions against thieves - secret safe, false bottom drawer, hidden cabinet, and cleverly placed hidden door panels were all used to baffle outsiders. These days most people opt to store their cash and most prized valuables in banks or safety-deposit boxes, but before the turn of the 19th century neither of these services existed. Above: A rare 19th century Italian desk, also known as King Carlo Alberto's desk, with several secret compartments.
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