Desk, Portable

Object Name:: Desk, Portable
Object ID:: 1993.003.04
Date:: circa 1861
Description:: Portable Desk. Used by Mason Weare Tappan (1817-1886). Rectangular mahogany box that opens on a slant, creating a slightly angled writing surface (both sides of writing surface are missing). Hinged lid with scalloped brass corners and brass nameplate on top: "Col. M. W. Tappan / From / A. C. Pierce." L-shaped brass straps on sides. Interior contains two ink bottles and one removable tray. A. Box; B.-C. two ink bottles, glass with metal caps, 1.6" high, x 1.75" x 1.75"; D. removable wooden tray, 6.1" x 2" x 0.4" thick.
Material:: Wood
Mahogany
Metal
Brass
Glass
Dimensions:: H-4.625 W-14 D-9.375 inches
Provenance:: Lap desk with engraved nameplate bearing the names Col. Mason Weare Tappan (1817-86) and Augustine C. Pierce (1801-1883). The lap desk and other Tappan family items given by Viola Goodenough, whose husband, Mason Tappan Goodenough (1910-1992), was a grandson of Mason Weare Tappan.
Credit Line:: Gift of Viola R. Goodenough
People:: Tappan, Mason W. (1817-1886), Pierce, Augustine C. (1801-1883), Goodenough, Mason Tappan (1910-1992), Goodenough, Viola R. (1912-2001)