desk, writing
Object
Accession Number
999.021a-gAlternate Name
DavenportDescription
A circa 1875 American black walnut Davenport-style desk, the flat surfaces of the front and sides with applied burled walnut panels, the three side drawers with turned wooden knobs, the cavity under the hinged leather-covered top with three vertical wooden dividers, across the top at the back a raised portion centred by a crest , the front legs with square feet are attached to and protrude from the body in an open carved scrolling design.Narrative
This style of desk is known as a Davenport. The basic design appeared in the late 18th Century and became increasingly popular into the 19th Century. The prototype was made by the English firm of Gillow & Co. for a Captain Davenport and was described in the order book as a desk. Repeat orders for the design were recorded in the company’s books under that customer's name.The early examples were box-like in shape and did not utilize the recessed case design which began to appear in around 1840. This Craigdarroch example has a recessed case, making it easier to use since the user's legs will fit beneath the writing surface.
In the early 20th Century, the Boston firm of Irving, Cason and Davenport produced a type of sofa that became known as a ‘davenport’. Eventually the term ‘davenport’ came to be applied by Americans to a sofas—and more commonly, to sofa-beds.
