The first secretaire was made in 1730 and at that time it was considered a piece of furniture for ladies. It looked like a desk with a small cabinet for papers and a folding table-leaf for writing letters. Later secretaires became larger because of many drawers and pigeonholes. Then it became a piece of furniture mainly for storing private and business papers, letters, and other documents. A large number of individual drawers were very useful for keeping papers in an organized way. Secret compartments, different latches and complicated locking systems ensured that all papers were securely locked away. 

 
The French secretaire from the Arzamas Museum collection is made in the Rococo style. This artistic movement appeared as a chamber style for living room and boudoir interior design in aristocratic mansions. The Rococo style major features are determined by the setting and furnishings of boudoirs, abundant in works of applied and decorative arts, clothing and other decorations. 

This secretaire is made of Brazilian rosewood that grows in the Amazon jungles in Brazil. This type of rosewood is characterized by unusual colors from creamу to rose, red and even purple with darker veining. Rosewood was named so because of its faint rose scent: resinous, fine, and a bit harsh. That is why French craftsmen used this rose-scented wood make dressing tables, small wardrobes, commodes, brush and knife handles. 

Today rosewood is widely used for making small expensive luxury items for interior design, for example, humidors, or boxes for storing cigars. Valuable rosewood is used for producing guitars and recorders (a recorder is a flute with a whistle mouthpiece).