SteamPunk before it was cool

So I went to the Metropolitan museum a while ago on the last day they were giving out the metal tokens. There are a number of advantages to going to a museum by yourself. One is getting to pick where you go and be a total nerd taking as long as you like in front of whatever you like :-)

On my trip I discovered something I had never seen in any of my previous trips: The Roentgen's Berlin Secretary Closet.

It caught my attention because of it's beauty and craftsmanship. But kept my attention because of it's amazing secrets. Behind all that spectacular painting, woodwork, and detail are dozens of hidden compartments. By the push of button gears and pulleys inside the closet open and close all kinds of different compartments. It is one of the most famous pieces to come from Abraham (1711-1793) and David Roentgen's (1743-1807) workshop. It has a writing desk and and a beautiful clock and behind that facade is a host of hidden storage, drawers, shelves, a strong box, and an easel. On the front panel are two key holes. The one on the left opens the panel to reveal storage. The hole on the left opens up the side panels by turning the key a quarter turn to either the right or the left.

Here is a video from the Met website showing all the secret compartments and a few views of the internal mechanisms amazingly from the late 1700s.