Desk

Title:

Chippendale-Style Desk

Object Name:

Desk

Creator:

Unknown

Date:

1790-1800

Material:

Mahogany, Pine, Brass

Dimensions:

H-4.75 L-21 Dia-7 inches

Description:

Mahogany reverse sepentine fall-front desk has four ball and claw feet supporting a reverse serpentine molded apron. The beaded case is fitted with four conforming graduated drawers. The fall-front encloses a stepped interior with blocked and fan carved drawers. There are two hidden drawers (one in each) at the back of the carved drawers on the shelf in the inside of the desk compartment.

Provenance:

The Chippendale style refers to the various styles of furniture fashionable in the third quarter of the eighteenth century and named after English cabinetmaker Thomas Chippendale. This was the first style of furniture in England named after a cabinetmaker, rather than a monarch. Chippendale became the most famous name in the history of English furniture at a time when such craftmanship was at its zenith.

In 1754, Thomas Chippendale published a book of his designs, titled "The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director." The designs are regarded as reflecting the current London fashion for furniture for that period and were used by other cabinet makers outside London. Chippendale designs fall into three main styles: Gothic, Rococo, and Chinese.

This desk is typical of one that would have been owned by a reasonably wealthy family. The pigeon holes were used for business affairs and the lower drawers were often used for house linens. The user generally stood at the desk. Contemporary paintings do no show people sitting at them because they were generally too high to sit at.

Possibly owned by John Sullivan. Most likely passed down in the family until it was donated by James William Sullivan and his sister Anna Sulilvan.

Subjects:

Desks, Furnishings, Furniture

People:

Sullivan, James

Place of Origin:

Massachusetts

Collection Name:

Society of the Cincinnati in the State of New Hampshire

Item Number:

1990.141

Accession Number:

1990.141

Type of Material:

Objects

Copyright Statement:

For information regarding copyright, permissions, and reproductions contact the American Independence Museum

Credit Line:

Bequest of James William Sullivan and his sister, Anna Josephine Sullivan, 1930

Participating Organization:

American Independence Museum