Writing desk

1840-1880

Place madeFrance, Europe

orEngland

Wood, tortoise shell, brass, textile, glass, metal, cedar, paper, wax

Overall: 5 3/4 × 13 3/8 × 12 in. (14.6 × 34 × 30.5 cm)

Bequest of Goodhue Livingston, 1951

INV.756ab

This desk belonged to Mrs. Eugene A. Livingston (Elizabeth R. Fisher, d. 1878), who lived at 16 W. 36th Street.

DescriptionWriting desk with wooden frame overlaid by boulle work (inlaid marquetry of brass and tortoise shell, stained red); frame in the form of high, curved top (with flat back) descending to slant-top desk, with hinged lids meeting at center where top and desk open out; curved lid opens to reveal tiered filing compartments, cut in scallops and points; slant-top lid folds out as writing surface, covered in green velvet with embossed borders, in front of narrow space divided into five compartments (with one compartment divided by wooden tray), with two corners each containing a square glass bottle with brass top with engraved decoration and central compartment containing ink extractor (for removing inkstains), paper sack with 74 tiny tacks, two pieces of red sealing wax, three scraps of paper printed with lines of poetry, four pen nibs, and tiny black and white photograph of woman with hat on metal surface; top half of writing surface can be pulled forward to reveal lower part of desk interior.

Markingsprinted: on first slip of paper: "There's a smile on thy lip and a charm in thine eye,/Which bewitches, enchants me - I can not tell why -/Resistless their power, unbounded their sway ;/I behold, am enslaved, but how I can't say." printed: on second slip of paper: "Lady's Reply. No. 74./In candour I will not disguise,/You've found some favour in my eyes,/But one who's been so fond of roving,/May prove unsteady in his loving./S. F. Whitman, 1210 Market St." printed: on third slip of paper: "Thou hast a loving heart rejected,/Therefore now thou art neglected ;/And though false flatt'rers may caress,/Thy doom is lasting loneliness!" printed: on piece of paper attached to bottom of sack: "1 m 1 oz/Gimp Tacks./SHELTON CO./Birmingham, Ct." printed: on wrapper of ink extractor: "PERRY & CO.'S/INSTANTANEOUS/INK EXTRACTOR,/OR UNIVERSAL ANTI-STAIN,/For taking ouut stains of ink from the fingers,/also from linen, paper, parchment,/ivory, bone, wood, &c., &c./N.B.-The Cedar Holder can be cut away as required./DIRECTIONS.-Moisten the Ink stain, then/rub with the EXTRACTOR, and the stain will/instantly disappear./(Entered at Stationers' Hall.)" written: in pencil on card found with object: "This desk/belonged to"; printed on card: "[Mr. & (crossed out)] Mrs. Eugene A. Livingstone./16 West 36th Street"

ClassificationsFURNITURE