A modesty panel is something added to various items such as clothes or furniture for the purpose of concealment. In particular it refers to a thin board of wood or metal that is attached to the front of a

desk A desk or bureau is a piece of furniture with a flat table (furniture), table-style work surface used in a school, office, home or the like for academic, professional or domestic activities such as reading (activity), reading, writing, or using ...

, drafting table,

electronic organ An electric organ, also known as electronic organ, is an electronic keyboard instrument which was derived from the harmonium, pipe organ and theatre organ. Originally designed to imitate their sound, or orchestral sounds, it has since developed ...

, or similar item, to shield legs, ankles, or feet from view. This is also known as a modesty board.

Furniture

The panel provides privacy for the person seated at the desk or organ, as it covers the upper part of the legs. This privacy role is particularly useful in cases where the desk or organ is positioned in front of a class or hall. The

modesty Modesty, sometimes known as demureness, is a mode of dress and deportment which intends to avoid the encouraging of sexual attraction in others. The word "modesty" comes from the Latin word ''wikt:modestus, modestus'' which means "keeping within ...

panel may also provide structural support for the four legs of the desk or organ, it may also be used as a place for affixing electric cabling, computer cabling, or electrical extension boxes. Early modesty panels were often used in Quaker meeting houses and other churches of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, growing in popularity during the

Victorian era In the history of the United Kingdom and the British Empire, the Victorian era was the period of Queen Victoria's reign, from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. The era followed the Georgian period and preceded the Edwardia ...

. Modesty panels might be found running up the sides of stairways to discourage passers-by from looking up

dresses A dress (also known as a frock or a gown) is a garment traditionally worn by women or girls consisting of a skirt with an attached bodice (or a matching bodice giving the effect of a one-piece garment). It consists of a top piece that covers ...

. They were also added to the sides of church

organs In biology, an organ is a collection of tissues joined in a structural unit to serve a common function. In the hierarchy of life, an organ lies between tissue and an organ system. Tissues are formed from same type cells to act together in a f ...

, shielding the musician's feet and legs from the congregation's view as she played the organ's

pedals A pedal (from the Latin '' pes'' ''pedis'', "foot") is a lever designed to be operated by foot and may refer to: Computers and other equipment * Footmouse, a foot-operated computer mouse * In medical transcription, a pedal is used to control p ...

. Later, as women entered the secretarial force in large numbers during the twentieth century, modesty panels were added to office desks.

Clothing

Modesty panels may cover the cleavage of a bust or the crotch, in particular providing a moisture-proof barrier under a skirt. It has also been used for a skirt fitted as part of a woman's swimsuit.

References

Desks Electronic organs Furniture {{Furniture-stub