Desk, Slant-Top
- Object Name:
- Desk, Slant-Top
- Object ID:
- 1970.035.05
- Place of Origin:
- Deerfield, NH
- Date:
- 1780-1820
- Description:
- Desk. Slant-top. Maple and figured maple primary woods, pine and basswood secondary woods. Evidence of dark red-brown paint or stain. Drop front opens to form the writing surface of the desk. Shallow drawers and shelves behind the drop front. Four drawers below the desk. Short cabriole legs. Drop front opens to form a flat writing surface; front is attached with two steel hinges (replacements). The drop front rests on two lopers made of rock maple. The lopers have shaped fronts and brass drawer pulls. The drop front has an iron lock, and scrolled brass escutcheon. Drop front has breadboard ends that are pegged with six pegs on each side; convex molding around the exterior edges. The flat wood behind the drop front is highly figured tiger maple. Behind the writing surface are drawers and shelves. Four stacked 8" wide drawers are on both the left and right ends of the desk, with three shelves in between. Drawers are of dovetail construction, nailed bottoms, small brass drawer pulls, maple with pine secondary wood. Glued to the bottom right drawer is an announcement of the auction at which the donor's purchased the desk: "DEERFIELD PARADE, N.H. / Thursday, May 12 at 10 a.m. / "HORACE J. BROWN ESTATE", and in pencil: " 1938. This desk was bought here, J.P.R.". Drawers: Four graduated drawers (maple with pine and basswood secondary woods), 4" high, 5", 6", and 7". Drawer are of dovetail construction, with added nails on the bottoms. Drawer fronts are slightly taller and wider than the drawers, with a convex molding around all edges. Each drawer has a pair of scrolled (Queen Anne type) brass bail handles and matching escutcheons (probably not original). The top three drawers are missing their locks; the bottom drawer has a blind escutcheon. There is a full dust board between the top and second drawers. Secondary woods on drawers are characterized by being rough and well worn. Case: The case is of dovetail construction; dovetail ends are visible on the case top. There are chalk scribbles on the interior back board, which appear to be numbers. Some hand-wrought nails used in attaching the drawer rests to the case interior. Two square notches on rear edge on top board. Back appears to be made of two horizontal boards, held with nails and screws of various types. Upper board of back has bevelled top edge. Plane marks visible on back. Illegible chalk marks on back. Base: Concave molding atop short cabriole legs with pads. Wing-like carved block extensions on either side of each leg. Bottom board. Some splatters of white paint on back.
- Material:
- Wood
Metal
Brass
Maple
Pewter
Basswood - Dimensions:
- H-44 W-36 D-18.5 inches
- Provenance:
- May have originally belonged to Horace J. Brown's grandparents, Daniel Tilton (1763-1830) and Isabel Thompson (1764-1831) of Deerfield, NH. Purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Rogers in 1938 at the auction of the Horace J. Brown estate, Deerfield Parade, NH (clipping in small inside drawer). Donors purchased New Hampshire antiques, often at auction, for use in their Suncook, NH, home.
- Credit Line:
- Mr. and Mrs. Harry K. Rogers Collection, Bequest of Josephine P. Rogers
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