<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><metadata xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"  xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:dcterms="http://purl.org/dc/terms/"><dc:title xml:lang="en">escritoires</dc:title><dc:identifier>http://AATesaurus.cultura.gencat.cat/aat/getty_en?tema=31427213</dc:identifier><dc:language>en</dc:language><dc:publisher xml:lang="en">Getty Institute</dc:publisher><dcterms:created>2026-03-30 20:55:14</dcterms:created><dcterms:isPartOf xsi:type="dcterms:URI">http://AATesaurus.cultura.gencat.cat/aat/getty_en</dcterms:isPartOf><dcterms:isPartOf xml:lang="en">Tesaurus d&apos;Art i Arquitectura</dcterms:isPartOf><dc:format>text/html</dc:format> <dcterms:alternative xml:lang="en">escritoire</dcterms:alternative> <dcterms:alternative xml:lang="en">escritories</dcterms:alternative> <dcterms:alternative xml:lang="en">scriptoires</dcterms:alternative> <dcterms:alternative xml:lang="en">scritoires</dcterms:alternative> <dc:description xml:lang="en"><![CDATA[ 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. ]]></dc:description></metadata>