Originally Posted by great aunt jacqui
it looks like an old inkwell, we used o have in our scool desks. maybe the cabinet was a combo sewing and desk? Also the recessed part on the left would be for pens or quills. It maybe an add on because the woods seem different. Just grabbing at ideas.lol
That was my thoughts exactly , maybe it was used a writting desk when not used for sewing. The glass container looks alot like an ink well.