Desk, Portable

Object Name:

Desk, Portable

Object ID:

1957.008.081

Place of Origin:

England or New England

Date:

1800-1810

Description:

Lap Desk, with history of belonging to Franklin Pierce. All mahogany; lid is an elaborately figured mahogany with a dull finish. The desk is a rectangular box that opens on a slant, creating a slightly angled writing surface. Several compartments on interior, as well as a drawer that opens on the right side of box. Heavy gauge brass corners, trim, handles, hinges, and escutcheons. All brassware attached with brass pegs. Handles on short ends of box; handles are countersunk, and fold flush with the surface of the box. Brass and steel three-tang lock with brass escutcheon; escutcheon is oval, with flared ends. Escutcheon on drawer is the same, but smaller. Brass top corners are ornate, with curvilinear shapes. Bottoms have L-shaped brass corners. Opening the lid reveals a green baize writing surface, edged with mahogany. Both angled surfaces lift to reveal storage space below (reverse of one surface has a sticker label, "Emery Bequest / 5/20/57"). Remnants of small fabric tabs on both slopes; lid slope has a brass biscuit-shaped closure. In addition to the writing surface, there are also six compartments; one compartment is a long concave tray for holding pens and nibs, and five small square ones (~2" deep). Adjacent to the pen tray is a lidded compartment, both lid and box are removable. The lid is turned wood; the removable box is a delicate open-topped cube, that is fully dovetailed (it is possible that this lift-out compartment may have been considered a secret space within the box; a straight pin was found in that space).
Box bottom (exterior) covered with striped green baize. Key stored separately.
A. Small removable compartment
C. Pen/nib holder
D. Lid to A

Material:

Wood
Metal

Dimensions:

H-6.5 W-19 D-11 inches

Provenance:

From the collection of Mary C. Emery of Amesbury, MA, and Fred P. Emery of Pembroke, NH. This bequest of over 200 items from the Emery home includes both items that were inherited and items that were collected. It is unclear how they acquired this particular box. It was part of the bedroom furnishing within their home. Note inside box says, "This desk Box, According to tradition, formerly belonged to Franklin Pierce."

Credit Line:

The Fred Parker Emery and Mary C. Emery Gift

People:

Pierce, Franklin (1804-1869), Emery, Fred Parker (1865-1927), Emery, Mary C. (1864-1956)