Hidden behind nearly every surface is another compartment, drawer, tool, or other delight. Alternatively, you might find the accessible drawers have a false back with additional storage behind, which at the time of origin would have been perfect for storing small pieces of silver or gold.This regal cabinet was built in the 19th century, but it holds some surprisingly advanced secrets. It can be fun trying to locate the hidden compartments in antique furniture, and part of your journey with any new piece might involve exploring and understanding its original functionality.Īn antique sideboard may have secret drawers which can today be used for cutlery or other kitchen items, and using vintage furniture to store utensils can be an added attraction. Today, this could be used to store precious jewellery or important banking documents that you would rather not leave lying around the house. You may find hidden spaces in the form of a built-in safe too, which once upon a time would have stored important documents and money. Today, this could still be used as a modern drinks counter suitable for a nightcap at the end of a dinner party. Some Victorian bookcases have in-built books which were originally used to hide secret compartments and drawers and occasionally even a Gentleman’s bar. This multi-functional purpose can add to its value and charm. This way, you may be able to locate a hidden spring which will then allow you to access the central interiorĪ Victorian bookcase isn’t just a showstopper in a hallway - it can often have a hidden compartment too. The only hard part can be finding the hidden compartment in the first place! Examining the grooves and surfaces of the front cabinet with your fingertips can help. You may occasionally find access to a hidden compartment with the use of a key, which can also unlock several other compartments. If you’ve recently invested in an antique secretaire, you might want to use this antique storage system for any trinkets or heirlooms that you don’t necessarily have a day to day use for but wish to keep somewhere safe.

In other secretaires, the central cabinet could be removed to reveal more secret drawers. This made it ideal for holding personal possessions that its owner wanted to keep locked away. The pigeon holes and drawers at the front of the secretaire often also included hidden compartments at the back, which were purposefully made invisible to the eye. Whether it’s a hidden safe or panels, false bottoms or secret pigeonholes, there’s lots to discover when it comes to hidden storage in antique furniture.Īside from this, a secretaire was also popular for its secret compartments - ideal for holding money, jewels and private documents. If you have a small living space or like to live a clutter-free life, hidden compartments in antique furniture can be useful for storing those hard to place items (read our Marie Kondo article for more inspiration on how your antique furniture can provide the perfect storage solution).Īntique desks and secretaries most commonly have inbuilt secret compartments, but you may discover other pieces of antique furniture have carefully considered secret compartments as well.

Nowadays, we often rely on banks or safety deposit boxes to secure our money or private possessions, but furniture before the turn of the 19th Century would be built with a secret compartment in a piece of furniture and drawers ideal for stowing away items that might have been targeted by petty thieves or prying eyes.įinding a piece of furniture with a hidden compartment can often be part of the joy of antique hunting. How many times have you seen a secret compartment housing a classified document or a love confession in a book or on television? If you bought antique furniture now could you discover a similar hidden storage secret? Part of the appeal of hidden storage in antique furniture is its thrilling use in fiction as a concealer of truth and a keeper of secrets. Vintage pieces can also have practical uses, with hidden storage and secret compartments adding to their appeal.įrom the late 16th Century and into the 17th Century, Italian cabinet makers popularised this sort of multi-purpose furniture, which reached English and American makers by the 18th Century. Aside from being visually stunning, the ability of antique furniture to make a statement is often part of its attraction.

Old desk with hidden compartments