18th C. Spanish Colonial Drop Down Desk

Spain

Wood | Item 2158

My research tells me this desk is from Spain and is likely related to holding smoking papers. The desk opens up with a fold out desk top covered in commercial hide (a later addition) for the inside writing surface. Opened, the desk shows eight drawers, two rows of three drawers all above one row of two thin drawers. The lower section opens with two doors revealing one permanent shelf approximately 1/3 the way down. The desk is raised above the ground about 4″ set up on two feet that extend the width of the deck and project out about 4″. It’s interesting to note the hardware used for the drawers and for the back boards, all hand wrought iron. This desk is heavy being made of good, solid wood pieces.

I did some research and the papers that are on affixed on the desk itself, mounted above drawers are from a cigarette paper maker in Alcoy Spain, “Nicolas Boronat”. It looks like there was a family business as there are other Boronat papers, made by “Francisco Boronat”. I saw these both on the biblioteca site from an archive in the museum in Madrid. They were described as “papel del fumar”. It was a curious thing, and I it makes sense that these small drawers were for cigarette papers. Apparently the smoking craze started in Spain. I found a link to the paper making museum in Alcoy, an important historical site for paper making. http://www.mmp-capellades.net/ where they have similar types of furniture from about mid 1700’s.