Desk

Title:

Partners Desk

Object Name:

Desk

Creator:

Unknown

Date:

1890-1910

Material:

Honduran Mahogany

Dimensions:

H-4.75 L-21 Dia-7 inches
Dimensions are overall measurements.
Drawer case dimensions: Desk -side from under desk top to bottom rail: H: 15 3/4", W: 33 1/4, D: 15 1/4

Description:

A double pedestal Sheraton-style desk with openings on the long opposite sides for chairs, allowing two people to work facing each other. The desk has working drawers on the long sides, and false drawers for ornamentation on the ends, each with two brass drawer pulls. The top is a large flat writing surface of wood with low sidewalls on each of the short ends that attach to curved end panels with dovetail construction. The sidewalls hold two thin shelves that run the length of the short ends of the desk. The drawer bases are held up by turned reeded legs with small bun feet. The top of the corner posts have three decorative wooden medallions on each face. Appears to be Honduran Mahogany. This style was popular in the late 1700s, but the desk is a later reproduction.

Replica of George Washington Desk

Provenance:

Possibly a late 1800's replica of a desk owned by George Washington. The drawers on the sides are false with only the drawers on either sides of where a chair would go work.

Partner's desks were extremely popular in the late 1700s in America. Originally conceived in London for bankers, they allowed two people to work at the same desk with storage space on either side. The drawers along the short sides of the desk are false drawers added for decoration and symmetry. This desk is a replica, made in the late 1800s, and modeled after one that George Washington once owned and used.

Subjects:

Desk, Partners Desk, Furniture

People:

Washington, George

Place of Origin:

United States

Collection Name:

Society of the Cincinnati in the State of New Hampshire

Item Number:

1988.007

Accession Number:

1988.007

Type of Material:

Objects

Copyright Statement:

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

Credit Line:

American Indepenence Museum

Participating Organization:

American Independence Museum