Adventures in Antiquity

18th century English Secretary
Two people who often show up on the Antique Road Show the Keno Brothers understand the historical value and context of antique furniture. Leigh Keno’s description of a secretary in the 18th century and its function creates a connective tissue between life today and life in the 18th century:

‘In the 18th century, a secretary-bookcase was the nerve center of the home,’’ said Leigh Keno, the dealer in American antiques. ‘’Everything valuable was kept there: cash, account books, receipts, treasured volumes. It was like a computer is to us today, but instead of a password, you opened it with a key.’’
The secretary featured in this article played the same role in an 18th century household.

Part of the reason that anyone buys or sells and antiques comes from a love for craft. It tells, moreover, something about the way people lived during that period. It tells us how they worked. It tells us something about their values.  In general, antiques tell us about the culture which produced it: past and present. This is the first in an on-going series of articles about the construction and the markings of 18th century furniture.