Antique secretaire a abattant (writing bureau)

Any small table, usually fitted with drawers and a flat writing surface, which may or may not be leathered.

A desk, with a sloping fall front lid supported, when in use, by lopers or chains. Less commonly. the bureau may have a tambour top or roll top. Bureaux have been made from the late 17th century. The interior of the desk was fitted with small drawers and pigeonholes. The lower part of the cabinet may consist either of drawers or cupboard space.

A bureau may also form part of a bookcase, (bureau bookcase) and is also used to describe A French writing table (bureau plat).

A bureau is distinguished from a secretaire by the method of concealment of the more... writing surface. A secretaire, which serves much the same purpose, usually has the writing section disguised as a drawer, that may be pulled out and the writing surface let down on brass quadrant slides less...