I'll post more photos, dimensions, weight, etc. this afternoon.
I will say that the bottom has green felt and that when I bought it someone had 'improved' its utility by adding a lampshade - (I took it off - it seemed a sacrilege to see it skewered thus with a rod and electrical fittings.) The top is another candle holder through which a hole was drilled for the rod.
Nonetheless, my sense is that it was originally as it looks - looking online, there was one...a full standing lectern (not table top) but w/o the candle holders... described as a music stand where the instructor would see the same music as the student while giving voice or instrumental lessons - or, perhaps, two could see the music for each instrument while playing.
I too was intrigued by the possibility of a side opening to conceal or store something, but the thing is clumsily nailed with a few more modern brads. Would you have given it a gentle shake?
I did...nothing rattled or clunked. Maybe I
should open it up - perhaps there's an original copy of the constitution inside...