American. Desk, 1900–1910. Mahogany, sycamore, 37 3/4 x 29 x 22 in. (95.9 x 73.7 x 55.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, H. Randolph Lever Fund, 81.56.1. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 81.56.1_bw.jpg)
American. Desk, 1900–1910. Mahogany, sycamore, 37 3/4 x 29 x 22 in. (95.9 x 73.7 x 55.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, H. Randolph Lever Fund, 81.56.1. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 81.56.1_transp2740.jpg)
Desk
Decorative Arts and Design
CULTURE
American
MEDIUM
Mahogany, sycamore
DATES
1900–1910
DIMENSIONS
37 3/4 x 29 x 22 in. (95.9 x 73.7 x 55.9 cm) (show scale)
MARKINGS
"9" impressed on back of both upper drawers.
"7" upside down impressed on back of both lower drawers
SIGNATURE
no signature
INSCRIPTIONS
no inscriptions
COLLECTIONS
Decorative Arts and Design
ACCESSION NUMBER
81.56.1
CREDIT LINE
H. Randolph Lever Fund
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Lady's desk, primary wood: mahogany, mahogany veneers; secondary wood American sycamore, according to Gordon Salter analysis. Desk is supported by pierced, lyre-shaped supports on each end. Each support comprises an arched trestle with simple whorl feet and carved acanthus leaves above which rise matched whiplash tendrils form lyre shape. Between the tendrils is an open-heart shape with three pierced and carved leaves inside. Near the top of the sides, front, and back are carved acanthus leaves and above the heart shape a shallow-carved tulip with tendrils. A slightly arched cross stretcher joins the two supports. This stretcher is molded and has carving of whiplash tendrils on the front. In its center is a carved rose and leaves in the rococo revival manner. The front of the desk is bowed and comprises two drawers divided by a vertical molded divider. Each drawer has a molding along the bottom edge; the molding grows into a tulip with whiplash tendrils at the center of the desk and a small three-tendril flourish at the outer edge. Each drawer has a gadrooned glass knob. The edge of the desktop is molded. A separate super structure is attached to the back of the desktop. This comprises a round-cornered hood with two smaller drawers, similar to the larger drawers but not bowed and with daisies instead of tulips. A panel of carved daisies separates the two rounded inner edges of the drawers. Each drawer has a small gadrooned glass knob. Beneath the drawers is an open area and on each side of the desktop a short gallery projects from the side of the super structure. Each gallery comprises pierced and carved whiplash tendrils and a daisy. The superstructure is attached to the desktop by four dowels. Desktop screwed to structure. Interior of drawers are finished.
Condition: Refinished with thick dark finish with many "bubbles". Piece of veneer missing from lower edge of back of proper left drawer front. Piece of wood removed for sample near center drawer runner, inside back of desk.
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
American. Desk, 1900–1910. Mahogany, sycamore, 37 3/4 x 29 x 22 in. (95.9 x 73.7 x 55.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, H. Randolph Lever Fund, 81.56.1. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 81.56.1_bw.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 81.56.1_bw.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
"CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.
RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply.
Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply).
For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch.
For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright.
If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.
RECORD COMPLETENESS
Not every record you will find here is complete. More information is available for some works than for others, and some entries have been updated more recently. Records are frequently reviewed and revised, and we welcome any additional information you might have.
