Desk, Slant-Top

Object Name:

Desk, Slant-Top

Object ID:

1983.069

Place of Origin:

Hampton, NH (probably)

Date:

1750-1790

Description:

Slant-Top Desk, said to have been made by a member of the Gove family of Hampton and Hampton Falls, and later Weare, NH. Birch wood, with white pine and basswood secondary woods. Slant-top desk atop four drawers, short cabriole legs and pad feet (feet may be maple).
Desk: Slant top drops to reveal writing surface, small drawers, and compartments. Slant top attached with two brass hinges. Brass/steel lock present, as well as brass lock plate, but escutcheon is missing (evidence of a shaped escutcheon present). Writing surface made of a wide board with breadboard ends, which are dovetailed. Writing surface rests on two lopers, which have small brass pulls. Front edges of lopers bevelled.
The desk interior is made up of two tiers. The lower tier has three drawers and extends 2" beyond the upper tier. These drawers have birch fronts and are of dovetail and pegged construction. Minute tacks have been used to secure the bottoms of the drawers. Drawers have small brass drawer pulls; drawers are lined with green paper. The center drawer is 15" wide while the flanking drawers are 9.125" each. The upper tier has a center section of two drawers (3.5" high x 6.125" wide) one atop the other, flanked by two vertical hidden compartments faced with split baluster turnings (7" high x 7" deep), which in turn are flanked by a series of pigeon holes. The top drawer has a keyhole, but is missing the lock and escutcheon.
There is a typed label pasted to the back of the uppermost drawer reading: "This desk was made in the 1750's by a direct paternal ancestor of James Gove, a lifetime resident of Weare, New Hamp. He died there in 1903 at the age of ninety-six (96) at which time it came into the possession of his grandson, Herbert (James) Peaslee of Franklin, New Hamp. and kept by him during his lifetime."
On the left and right sides of the upper tier are two drawers (constructed the same as the other drawers) with 4 pigeonholes above the drawers. From left to right: The first drawer has a reverse stencil "RD" and a pencil cursive inscription which appears to be a "J__", the other letters being indecipherable. The second drawer has a number of holes on the bottom, maybe punched in with an awl. There are some scratched and pencil doodled marks and also evidence of a red/brown stain. The third drawer has basswood dividers making three compartments. The fourth drawer has a "x" in pencil on the bottom and contains inside a wooden desk organizer. The pigeonholes above these drawers have decorative valences.
A note on a slip of paper in the drawer reads "1973/ Leslie & Royce Drake Sales Agents / Use on ---Way -es instead of Ward name. " On the reverse of the paper is the name Doris and an order for plants.
Drawers and Case: The four drawers in the body of the desk are graduated with height measurements from top to bottom as follows: 3.75", 4.75", 5.75", 6.75". Each drawer has two brass drawer pulls and there is a plain flat oval escutcheon and lock on the third drawer only (no keyholes or escutcheons on drawers 1,2, and 4). There is dovetail construction on all drawers, beautifully executed. There are pegs and wrought nails added on the back of the bottom of the drawers. The drawer fronts have convex molded edges, that extend beyond the drawer on the sides and top. The drawer separators are slightly warped. The drawer runners are held in place with wrought nails.
The desk has short cabriole legs and pad feet, with added metal pads. There are small wing-like, intricately carved wedges on each side of the legs, except the left rear. Bottom board present, but no dust boards. Cove molding at base. The back of the case is made of three vertical pine panels, either lapped or dovetailed together. Smooth bevel cut at top and sides of back.
Series of notches on underside of top board, visible from the back.

Material:

Wood
Birch
Basswood
Pine
Brass

Dimensions:

H-42.5 W-38.5 D-19 inches

Provenance:

Desk, descended through the donor's family, most recently from her father (Herbert J. Peaslee) to her (Doris Peaslee), but also known to have been owned by Herbert Peaslee's grandfather, James Gove (1807-1903) of Weare, NH. Doris, having no heirs, intended to bequeath the desk to NHHS, but instead donated it in 1983 as she was moving for retirement.
Typed label on the desk reads:
"made in the 1750's by a direct paternal ancestor of James Gove, a lifetime resident of Weare, NH. He died there in 1903 at the age of ninety six (96) at which time it (the desk) came into the possession of his grandson, Herbert (James) Peaslee of Franklin, NH and kept by him during his lifetime."
And another paper reads: "According to family tradition, this desk was made in the 1750's by a member of the Gove family of Hampton and Hampton Falls, and later of Weare. It descended through James Gove (1807-1903) of Weare to the donor. James Gove was the great-grandson of Edward Gove (1720-1802), who was born in Hampton Falls and moved to Weare sometime after 1746."

Credit Line:

Gift of Doris Peaslee

People:

Gove, James (1807-1903), Peaslee, Herbert James, Gove, Edward (1720-1802), Peaslee, Doris