Portable Desks

Artist James A. Degges 1835 - 1917

Dateca. 1880

Terms

Portable Desks
Mahogany

Dimensions8 × 24 × 37 cm (3 1/8 × 9 7/16 × 14 9/16 in.)

MarkingsSigned in pencil inside drawer compartment. Pencil roman numeral II on back left corner of drawer compartment.

Credit LineConcord Museum Collection, Gift of Elmer Joslin; F1322.

Object numberF1322

DescriptionReplica Declaration of Independence lap desk. Two clear glass square ink bottles and one clear glass square pounce pot with pounce or sand inside. Label inside desk reads: Th Jefforson gives this writing desk to Joseph Coolidge / as a memorial of affection. It was made from a / drawing of his own by Ben Randall, cabinet maker of Philadelphia, with whom he first lodged on his arrival / in that city in May 1776. And is the identical one on / which he wrote the Declaration of Independance. / Politics as well as Religion, has its superstitions. / These gaining strength, with time, may one day, give / imaginary value to this relic, for its association with the / birth of the Great charter of our Independance. / Monticello, Nov. 18, 1825.

Collections