Description:
Slant-lid desk with four graduated drawers and grain painting by Rufus Porter (1792-1884). The desk is accompanied by a receipt that reads: "May 7, 1850 / Painted 1 Desk / .75 / Rufus Porter." The desk is a rare and documented example of Porter's later work, and is believed to have been made to serve as a sample desk illustrating Porter's various painting techniques. For example, the drawer fronts, which feature wooden pulls, are painted to resemble different woods. The painting on the top drawer imitates tiger maple, the painting on the second and third drawers imitate crotched mahogany, and the painting on the bottom drawer imitates oak. The desk's sides and slant lid top are also painted to imitate crotched mahoany, and the top of the desk imitates oak. Porter also painted the sides of the lopers with streaks of red and yellow paint. The desk interior features an open prospect unit with a secret drawer at its top and another drawer at its base, and is flanked on either side by four pigeonholes below three drawers. The top right interior drawer includes a lock. The top of the desk is composed of a single board and is blind-dovetailed to the case sides, which are also each composed of a single board. The back of the case is composed of four horizontal boards that are nailed at the sides. The three drawer dividers fit into grooves along the sides of the case. The case stands on two straight french feet in front and two broad bracket feet in the rear, and features a shaped skirt. The lock on the slant lid is replaced.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2023.8.23 |
