Desk, Work

Description

Sewing desk of post and panel construction with frame components of cherry and carcase panels as well as gallery top and desk top of oak. All exterior surfaces varnished. All drawers nicely dovetailed. Gallery drawers (two banks of three each to either side of center cupboard) have fronts of butternut veneered on outside with bird's eye maple, walnut cockbead, and a single knob (commercial) of ebonized wood with brass back plate, decorative washer, and wood screw (flat head) which secures knob to drawer front. Gallery cupboard door has mortised and tenoned (through) cherry frame with walnut cockbead and a cherry panel with bird's eye maple veneer and walnut molding around inside of frame. Gallery cupboard is lined with oak and has a single shelf of white pine. Cupboard door has a surface mount lock with a brass escutcheon on outside. Desk has a pull out work surface of white pine with oak breadboard ends, a walnut facing, and a matching ebonized wood knob with brass back plate, wood screw, and washer for screw. Below the pull-out are two banks of three drawers each, the proper right bank being narrower than the left bank of drawers. Drawer fronts are butternut with bird's eye maple veneer on outside, and ebonized wood and brass knobs centered in each drawer front. As with the carcase panels, the drawer fronts have a walnut molding surround. Desk drawer backs are all butternut; sides and bottoms are of white pine. Gallery drawer sides, backs, and bottoms are mostly pine; drawer 1 back of basswood; drawer 3 sides of basswood; drawer 4 back of basswood; drawer 6 sides of basswood. All drawer components are labeled in penciled script, e.g. "No. 2".

Notes

This piece was brought to the North Family at Mount Lebanon after the Enfield Shaker community disbanded, and the remaining members moved to the North Family.