Desk, Drop-Front

Description

Butternut drop-front desk. The top edges are curved down and slightly hangs over the front and sides. The back side comprises two boards nailed horizontally to the sides. The sides and base are dovetail jointed. The front is a single panel of wood with four evenly spaced boards nailed vertically to the front to create three recessed sections. There is a keyhole front, top center, with key still in place. The panel is hinged on the bottom and when opened has metal wire attached to the top end to hold the panel up so it can serve as a writing surface. The writing surface is 36" x 21 3/4" and covered with a gray baize. The desk has a number of compartments. Along the top row are four pigeonholes (one divider in top right drawer) in between two open compartments of the same overall width. Below those two compartments are sets of drawers. A smaller drawer sits atop a slight larger one. Each drawer has a hinged brass ring pull screwed to the front. There was probably a third drawer below the set on the right hand side. At the center of the desk is an open compartment, approximately the same dimensions as the three drawers on the right, that likely also had a drawer or two because indicated be the remaining drawer guide nailed to either side. Below the central and right compartments is another long rectangular section, missing its central divider. The left hand side has an open compartment below the set of drawers. The exterior is clear coated.

Notes

The desk belonged to Elder William Anderson, the last elder of Mount Lebanon's South Family. It was given to the donor by Eldress Sarah Collins.