escritoires

In modern usage, generally refers to small, portable writing desks that first appeared in 16th-century Europe, and were extremely popular in France in the 18th century. They are generally characterized by having a nest of drawers enclosed in a box, often with a sloping front that is hinged along the bottom edge and may be let down to provide a writing platform. An escritoire was placed on top of a table or had its own legs. Formerly, these small portable desks were also called "secretaries"; however, in modern usage, the term "secretaries" typically refers to larger pieces meant to be placed against a wall.