Description:
Bombe desk-and-bookcase in mahogany, made for the Ames family of Boston. It was sold to the Whitney family in the 1850s, where it descended until bought for Historic Deerfield. The swelled shape of the base of this costly piece was derived from European and British prototypes that underscored man's ability to manipulate materials found in nature. The upper case is topped with a broken, pitched pediment with dentil moldings and flame finial, over dentil molding and a carved frieze. Built as a separate unit, these are rarely found on New England double case pieces. The two scalloped-paneled doors are framed by reeded pilasters with carved capitals; there are two candle slides at the bottom of the upper section. The upper interior has twelve small and six large pigeon holes, two adjustable shelves, over three drawers with brass pulls. The bombe base is made with drawer sides conforming to the shape of the case, a flat front, a cyma-shaped center pendant on the apron, and four molded bracket feet. The hinged slant-top drops to reveal the central writing compartment with a locked prospectus in front of three small drawers, and arched pigeon holes and small drawers. There are nine secret compartments built into this section: The pigeon hole arches are the fronts of four small concealed drawers; the complete prospectus slides out by removing the top drawer and releasing a hidden latch through a hole in the top of the prospectus; there are two small vertical document drawers on the back of the prospectus; and a small, rectangular panel at the floor of the prospectus compartment can be lifted to reveal three small boxes hidden on a shelf behind the top drawer. The only sign of the three boxes is that the top drawer is three inches shorter than the middle drawer. The Chippendale brass pulls and escutcheons, and finish are original. The desk drawers are white pine and the bookcase is made of a mahogany front with a cherry structure.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+56.368 |
