What goes in the tiny drawers?

Those small compartments held items like sealing wax, nibs and sand used for drying ink. The open pigeonholes above took folded letters and ledgers. People grouped their paperwork by correspondent or business matter. The layout helped clerks and householders keep daily tasks organised.

My grandfather left me this old wooden desk with a slanted lid, but it has no key to open the main top part, so how do I get it open safely?

A locksmith can pick the brass lock without damaging the surrounding timber. They use simple hand tools to manipulate the original mechanism. Once open, you can ask them to cut a replacement key. Old locks are robust and usually work fine after a drop of oil.

Can I change the handles?

You can swap the brasses if they are modern replacements. Original handles should stay where they are. Changing period hardware leaves shadows on the wood. It also requires drilling fresh holes through the drawer fronts.

I need to move one of these up two flights of stairs into a flat and I am wondering if the whole thing comes apart into smaller sections to make it lighter?

The drawers slide out easily to reduce the weight. The main carcase itself is one solid structure and does not dismantle. You should tie the fall shut before lifting. Always carry the main frame from the bottom rather than pulling on the top edge.

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Antique Mahogany Bureau from the 18th Century

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An antique mahogany bureau is a case piece featuring a hinged, sloping fall that opens to reveal a fitted writing interior resting above a chest of drawers.