Here stands the writing desk of a mysterious king who was embroiled in political intrigue during the 19th century. Its opulent exterior still exudes royalty while its clandestine interior once kept its owner’s secrets safe in the shadows.
A sympathizer of rebellion in an age of monastic pushback, King Carlo Alberto of Sardinia (1798-1849) had this stationery specially crafted for his purposes. It is rife with secret compartments, for he may have housed correspondences that he wished to conceal from prying eyes.
By some twist of fate, however, this jewel of a desk landed in New Orleans, at the auction house M. S. Rau, where it will soon find its way into the hands of the highest bidder. It could end up in a lawyer’s office perhaps, or become the crown jewel of a luxurious den, as its future owner carries its historic legacy forward.
As you might imagine, this royal stationery, crafted around 1840, will cost more than pocket change; bidding starts at $266,500.
No section of this royal writing table and matching armchair goes undecorated. Carvings and inlaid wood sprawl all across its polished surface. It is crafted from the finest Cuban mahogany, satinwood, and boxwood. Intricate scrollwork and foliate swags adorn the whole, while there are carved roses on the outside with matching roses inside—symbolizing royalty. Lion masks adorn the chair arms, while carved lions’ feet rest at the base. Even the lion’s claws are inlaid with boxwood.
Yet much of this piece’s intricacy goes unseen, alluding to the mystery of that Sardinian king. There are secret drawers and release buttons on every part of the desk. The turn of a key releases two identical compartments at the front, each revealing architectural facades. One features a wooden bust of Socrates surrounded by hidden drawers disguised as carved columns.
With compartments inside compartments—we counted 35 in all—the secrets seem endless.
“Dozens of nooks are concealed within the beautiful structure of this desk, accessible only with a key and proper know-how,” Kristin Core, of M. S. Rau, told The Epoch Times. “King Carlo Alberto orchestrated many political actions, meaning there was never a shortage of confidential correspondence and plans to be stored.”
Another novel feature of this desk consists of a charming “mini-desk” that pops up from the center of the ornately inlaid desktop. The smaller of the two units even has its own tiny drawers hidden behind doors that release with the press of a button. Even the armchair hides cubby holes, under its seat and throughout its frame.
“You can call him either cautious or paranoid but given that he had many workers in his space, he certainly wanted to keep sensitive documents hidden,” Ms. Core said. “Thus, the many hidden compartments were an ingenious solution to his privacy concerns.”
When the auction house first obtained the desk and chair, the previous owner only said there were “many hidden compartments;” there was no “how-to video,” Ms. Core said. Yet, being experts in antique furniture, the auctioneers were soon able to unlock all the desk’s secrets—that they know of.
“It took our art handlers a few weeks to find all the compartments!” Ms. Core said. “Thankfully they’re an energetic group of problem solvers, so it wasn’t too much of a burden.”
The King Behind the Desk
The life of King Carlos Alberto is complex as he lived during turbulent times. His actions as a monarch ranged from revolutionary to absolutist. A supporter of the European Liberalist movement, he was associated with the first Italian Constitution and fought in support of constitutional monarchy. He later withdrew his support and joined the Royalist expansion against the Spanish Liberals.King Carlo Alberto was responsible for leading Sardinia into the First War of Independence (1848-1849), which saw Italy through her first steps towards unification. After being defeated by absolutist Austria in 1849, however, the king abdicated the throne to his son, Victor Emmanuel II. He then departed for exile to Oporto, Portugal, where he died the same year.
The Sardinian king spared no expense in this desk. Although today much of its history eludes us, one thing remains clear: The majesty, craftsmanship, and thought process behind the whole could only have been meant for royalty.
