Desk, Work

Description

Desk of post and frame construction with corner posts, frame stiles and rails as well as panels and drawer fronts of butternut. Three small panels in unmolded frames at bottom front of gallery of bird's-eye maple. The end panels, drawer fronts, and door panel have applied black walnut moldings. The additional pull out work surface of white pine, including bread-board ends; exposed work surface of curly maple. Six drawers below work surface (three wide, three narrow) of white pine; gallery drawers of basswood (one of pine) with pine backs. Porcelain drawer pulls and door knob. Door hinged with brass buttons. Turned feet on corner posts.

Notes

This colorful and complicated work desk was made by Henry Clay Blinn (1824-1905), Elder at Canterbury. The case is joined together, while the drawers are held together by glue. Blinn used many woods in the construction: tiger maple for the surface between the upper and lower case; panels of bird's-eye maple below the upper stacks of drawers, and butternut for the sides and top. Each of the fourteen drawers are stamped in their insides with numbers that dictate their placement in the stack. One of the drawers has a lock and is adorned with a brass escutcheon. Penciled on the bottom of a drawer is the inscription: "These two sewing desks were made from Mother Hannah's Butternut trees, grown South of Ministries Shop. Were cared for her when saplings. Desks made by Elder Henry C. Blinn." "Mother Hannah" referred to Hannah Goodrich (1763-1820), one of the founding Shakers of Hancock and later an eldress at Canterbury. The Museum has other pieces of furniture attributed to Blinn through oral history, but this is the only example bearing a written inscription.