Internet Antique Gazette » desks

Kneeholes

hcst — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 12:49:36 +0000

Kneehole

A kneehole is an open spatial volume at the center of a desk or dressing (bureau) table flanked by pedestals of drawers. The space is typically shallow and closed at the back by a compartment with door. In a desk, the kneehole is usually overlaid by a short ‘lap’ drawer flanked on either side by another short drawer. In a dressing or bureau table, the kneehole is usually overlaid by one long drawer. These tables frequently have a concealed drawer in the form of a short decorative apron at the top of the kneehole opening.

Some sources place the origin of the kneehole desk in eighteenth century England, but similar forms were known in seventeenth century France.

The tradition is that these desks were designed to be used by individuals seated sideways to the desk’s front, with only one knee in the shallow ‘hole’. In that era most of the gentlemen for whom this desk form was designed wore swords as part of their regular dress. Swords could be awkward if the gentleman sat fully into the desk, hence the new, more accommodating form. A similar circumstance applied to ladies using a kneehole dressing or bureau table. Their long, full gowns made sitting straight in to the table awkward, but like the gentlemen with swords, the ladies could easily sit half-way into the table without mussing their gowns.

Reference note by p4A editorial staff; 08.09.

Bureau Mazarin – Pedestal Desk

hcst — Fri, 13 May 2011 14:05:54 +0000

Bureau Mazarin

Dating from the 17th century, this desk form is the earliest predecessor the pedestal desk. Its name drives from a similar desk said to have been used by Cardinal Jules Mazarin (1602 to 1662), a native of Italy and disciple of Cardinal Richelieu, who was regent of France during the minority of Louis XIV (1642 to 1661).

The bureau Mazarin form desk customarily has two tiers of small drawers on tall legs flanking a open kneehole space. The legs are usually connected by X-form or H-form stretchers.

Reference note by p4A editorial staff; 08.09.

Wooton Patent Desks

hcst — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 15:10:23 +0000

Wooton Patent Desks

The Wooton Desk Manufacturing Co. was established in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1870 by William S. Wooton, a former minister turned furniture maker, and remained active until 1893.

The company is known for a group of elaborate walnut folding desks, first patented in 1874, in the Victorian Eastlake style which were essentially self-contained offices. These elaborate cabinets came in four grades: “Ordinary,” “Standard”, “Extra”, and “Superior”. The desks were expensive, prestige furniture, even in their own time, ranging from $100 to $750 each depending on grade. They were used in the White House and by titans of finance and industy like J. P. Morgan and John D. Rockefeller.

According to the 1876 Wooton catalogue, their top line of secretaries was described as follows: “The Secretary is entirely different from anything ever constructed before. It consists of three sections, the main case and (two) wings or doors, which contain pigeon-holes, shelving, drawers, etc. convenient in arrangement and uniform in appearance. We manufacture four grades, the Ordinary, Standard, Extra and Superior, and three sizes of each grade. Its capacity is more than double that of any other desk manufactured, occupying the same floor space. Every division is within easy reach of the writer; the Secretary can be opened and closed in a moment, and when closed, the contents are secure from dust and intrusion. The lock which fastens the wings is the only one required.

“The exterior cases are constructed of black walnut, polished French veneers and rich carvings, contrasted with black and gold, according to grade.

“The interior cases are of clear and beautiful woods, such as pine, poplar, maple, holly, satin wood, etc. with fine marquetry and inlaid borders. The hardware is made expressly to suit the requirements of each part, and is of ornamental Berlin bronze, real solid bronze or gold enameled.

“The writing leaf is supported by an ingenious automatic device, making it a perfectly solid table when in position for use. The letter-box is a convenience which has only to be used to be appreciated. The filing boxes in the wings are another convenience, and are furnished with a uniform set of labels in the grades named in the description.”

In addition to the principal secretary, the Wooton Company made a “Ladies’ Secretary” (6″ narrower and 5″ shallower than the top-of-the-line model) and a line of “Rotary” desks in eleven different styles ranging from a plain open top model to elaborate cylinder desks. They are all rare today; only one Ladies’s secretary is known (p4A.com item no. 78587), now owned by the Indiana State Museum. The Rotary desks are seldom seen and fewer than twelve of the larger secretaries are thought to have been made.

Wooton desks carried a paper label reading, “WOOTON Desk Manf. Co., Indianapolis, Ind./W.S. Wooton’s Patent, Oct. 6, 1874″ and a brass plate embossed “WOOTON DESK CO./INDIANAPOLIS, IND.

For further information, see Wooton Patent Desks: A Place for Everything and Everything in It’s Place by J. Camille Showalter and Janice Driesbach, The Indiana State Museum, 1983.