The Parts of a desk, not parts for a desk!

Factual Questions
1

I’m writing a novel for nanowrimo.

One of the characters is having a wonderful time discovering all the secret compartments in a mid 18th century rosewood desk. I’m working around the details at the moment, but it’s making my brain itch with the need to know.

Can anyone please recommend a good website or book I can get from the library that will name the various parts of the desk. In fair detail too.

Like what’s the alcove-y bit called that’s under the cubbyholes? What’s the official name for the cubbyholes. What are the divider bits between the drawers called?

That kind of stuff.
Thanks in advance.

2

Sorry Mods, please remove the double-up.

3

The cubbyholes are called pigeonholes, if I’m not mistaken. The Wikipedia page doesn’t have the info you’re looking for, but it does include a bibliography that may be helpful. WARNING: this could involve going to a library.

4

Thanks, I tried Wiki first up and I’ve been googling like a googly thing, and all I get is retail hardware,

Parts *for *a desk. :smack:

Going through the Woodworking sites, I get long trails of links to free plans, that aren’t free or aren’t useful.

Hi Ho, off to the library I go… Know any good book titles?

5

Look up antiques.

Tris

6

Like this

7

Thanks, still doesn’t have the detail I need. There’s a lot of ‘antique’ retailers, isn’t there?
Like an exploded diagram? Is that the right term, all the bits that make up a desk labeled with the technical names.

Not a column, but a pilaster.etc.
It’s so the furniture restoring character doesn’t sound inept. Doesn’t call a pigeon hole a cubbyhole (see, I *was *paying attention!)

Thanks for the suggestions so far, please keep them coming.

8

I would suggest looking at books dedicated to cabinet making. There is a bit of an intro in Wikipedia but it doesn’t go anywhere deep enough for your purposes.