Description:
Portable writing desk originally owned by Dr. William Stoddard Williams (1762-1829) who served Deerfield as a physician and a community leader, which descended in the Williams family of Deerfield. After Dr. Williams was elected the first Secretary of the Board of Trustees of Deerfield Academy in 1797, a portable writing desk must have proved useful; this one was probably made locally. The rectangular box, with a neoclassical oval on the top outlined in inlaid stringing and bordered with varigated stringing, has an ivory escutcheon and brass bail handles on each end, one of which reveals a locked drawer. The box is hinged mid-way on one long side to open on the diagonal to reveal a sloped writing surface, covered with the original green wool baize and fitted with compartments at the top for pens and ink. The two hinged (leather remains), writing surfaces cover storage compartments beneath each half of the box.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+1999.22 |
