This blog changed from a daily blog to a blog to celebrate the folk art of Kerras Jeffery, as well as his reproduction furniture and other projects. His studio & shop closed in 2017 following his passing.

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Davenport Desk - modified

      I picked up this really need desk last week which I just learned is called a "Davenport Desk".  It has three drawers down one side - a very unusual piece.  The desk seemed really low - it must have had something cut off the bottom so I built a new base for it to make it desk height, then painted it.
What is a Davenport Desk?  From www.wikipedia.org
     A Davenport desk, is a small desk with an inclined lifting desktop attached with hinges to the back of the body.  Lifting the desktop accesses a large compartment with storage space for paper and other writing implements, and smaller spaces in the forms of small drawers and pigeonholes.  The Davenport has drawers on one of its sides, which are sometimes concealed by a panel. This stack of side drawers holds up the back of the desk and most of its weight. The front of the desk stands on thick legs or pillars which are often highly carved, somewhat exaggerated, thick cabriole legs, but these are not essential. 19th century Davenport desks had a variety of different leg designs.  The desk shape is distinctive; its top part resembles an antique school desk while the bottom is like one half of the supports of a pedestal desk turned sideways. The addition of the two legs in front completes the odd effect.

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