Desks

Date1810 - 1820

Dimensions208.12 × 101.52 × 55.84 cm (81 15/16 × 40 × 22 in.)

MarkingsCentral drawer has pencil inscriptions on the side: "This secretary was repaired in 1876/ It had then stood in Fathers study for 50 years/ Before that it stood in Grandfathers study in/ Charlestown certainly 80 years ago probably/ is at least 100 years old now./ 1875 S.R. Bartlett/ Concord April 1876." "Family meeting/ Oct. 14th 1876/ Dr. Josiah Bartlett/ D.B. Bartlett/ his wife Rebecah/ James W./ & wife Ae[?]/ Martha Bartlett/ Elizabeth B. "/Geo. B. Bartlett/ S.R. Bartlett/ Annie K. Bartlett/ Edward J. Bartlett/ & wife Sallie/ Dr. Josiah Bartlett died Jan. 5th 1878 aged 81 years & 1 month 5 days." "This secretary came to Dr. William Bradford Bartlett in Hartford Conn. from the house of his father Edward J. Bartlett of Concord Mass. May 14, 1914. Returned to Concord 1917."

Credit LineBequest of Edward J. Bartlett (1994)

Object number1994.62

DescriptionDesk with bookcase. Mahogany, mahogany veneer, pine. Three parts. Four square tapered legs with sides and back tenoned in; two dovetailed drawers with beaded edges, two pulls each with round plates, locks; two pull-out supports for writing surface which folds out and is baize covered. Desk section is concealed by reeded tambours which retract into reeded wells on the left and right of five small drawers with nine pigeonholes above. A 1 1/4 cove and quarter round molding forms a well for the upper case. Upper case: Sides slotted for three adjustable shelves; back is two chamfered panels, framed; two doors with scratch beads at the edges, glazed with mullions in a Chinese Chippendale pattern. Cornice: Dovetailed construction; 1 1/4 section is veneered and has a thin 1/8 scrolled blind fret; above a cove and bead is a dentil course. See inscriptions, which note repairs.