Desk and Bookcase

Object Name:

Desk and Bookcase

Object ID:

1974.068

Creator:

Osborn, Moses Jr.

Place of Origin:

Weare, NH

Date:

circa 1820

Description:

Desk and Bookcase, Federal style, signed by cabinetmaker Moses Osborn, Jr., Weare N.H. Cherry, maple, birch and basswood, with white pine and basswood secondary woods. Desk and bookcase made of two cases: upper case (A) is a bookcase with two panel doors, lower case (B) is a slant-front desk above 4 drawers. Upper Case: The top of the upper case has a pediment on the front and sides, with reeded plinths at each corner (there are no holes in the plinths for finials). The front has split arch, a.k.a. "broken-scroll," carvings with a plinth in the center. The pediment side pieces are straight. There is a cornice molding below the pediment.
The bookcase has two doors of panel construction. Each door has a steel lock (the locks are identical, one is mounted upside down) is as well as a handle-latch. Each door has a pressed brass scutcheon, rectangular with cut corners (all appear to be original). The handle-latches are brass with a hanging pendant on the exterior, and a latch on the interior; turning the pendant rotates the latch. The interior of the bookcase has a center divider and a horizontal full-length shelf. The upper shelf is further divided on each side, making six compartments (four above and two below) in all. Lower Case, Desk: The lower case is composed of a slant-front desk, attached with two hinges, atop 4 drawers. Slant front drops opens to form a flat writing surface; front rests on two lopers. The lopers have small brass drawer pulls. The slant front has a brass escutcheon and lock, which match the ones on the bookcase. The slant front has bread board ends, and is either cherry or maple. A black line has been inscribed on the edge of the slant front (a detail which is repeated around the edge of each drawer below). The desk interior has a central open area with several drawer above it, and a stack of 3 graduated drawers on both the left and right. These drawers measure (from top to bottom) 2", 2.5" and 4" high. The drawers over the central area includes one wide drawer with decoratively shaped front, over which are two small drawers which are side by side. The wide drawer, with the shaped front, has a cursive pencil signature on the interior: "Moses Osborn, Esq.". Inscribed on the inside of the long drawer is the word "long". The drawers are of dovetail construction and stained dark red (probably not original) and each has a brass drawer pull. There are various pencil marks inside the drawers as follows: Top left drawer - "4" on the sides and back; middle left drawer - "2" on all sides; bottom left drawer - "2"; central right drawer - "3" on each panel, as does the one immediately to its right; right top drawer is inscribed with "1" as do the two drawers below it. Lower Case, Drawers: The drawers below the desk are graduated (from top to bottom) 4", 4.875", 5.875" and 6.75". They are of dovetail construction. The ends of the drawer fronts are rounded (but not beaded). All drawers have pressed brass bail handles, oval in shape; on the reverse of the bail is the word "PATENT". Each drawer has a matching pressed brass escutcheon. All the drawers have locks. There is a bottom board, but no dust boards. The drawer fronts are cherry; drawer separators are rock maple. Bracket feet, with skirt on all sides. The front skirt is serpentine with a flat center portion (small "v" projections on either side of the flat center). Side skirts are also serpentine. The back is flat. Back of case made up of horizontal hand-hewn panels which have been nailed in place. They are chamfered at the upper edge both on the bookcase and desk portions. The nails are cut with hand-forged heads.

Material:

Wood
Cherry
Maple
Birch
Pine
Basswood
Steel

Dimensions:

H-75.875 W-39 D-20 inches

Provenance:

Secretary is signed by Moses Osborn, Jr., cabinetmaker in Weare, N.H., 1820s.
It is unknown when Jessie & Richard Rablin acquired the piece; they collected New England furnishings, which they acquired at shows and auctions. The Rablin's used this secretary in their Antrim, N.H. living room (at least since 1969), before loaning it to N.H.H.S. in 1974. The Society was able to purchase the secretary with funds from The W. N. Banks Foundation.

Credit Line:

Gift of the William N. Banks Foundation

People:

Osborn, Moses, Jr. (1796-1870), Rablin, Jessie (1906-2000), Rablin, Richard (1903-1991)