Drop-front Secretary by Jules Wabbes

Drop-front secretary in wenge and gunmetal-finished steel, model created in 1955.
This drop-front secretary in solid wenge, designed by Jules Wabbes, takes the form of a vertical column with rigorously architectural proportions.
The façade incorporates a hinged drop-front which, when opened, forms a stable writing surface supported by a discreet system of metal stays.
The structure rests on a recessed steel cradle with a gunmetal finish, which visually lightens the mass of the piece while asserting its constructive character. This metal base introduces a controlled contrast with the depth of the wenge—a dense wood with dark tonalities and pronounced grain—further emphasized by darkened interior panels that enhance the legibility and depth of the overall composition.
At the intersection of working furniture and interior architecture, this secretary fully illustrates Jules Wabbes’s approach: functional, durable, and exacting furniture, conceived as a structuring element of space.
Jules Wabbes (1919–1974) was a leading figure of Belgian post-war modernist design. His work is characterized by architectural rigor, the use of noble materials, and an exceptional standard of craftsmanship.