Virginia Chippendale Walnut Slant Front Desk

Eastern region, late 18th century, oak and poplar secondary, dovetailed case, hinged slant lid, molded lip, bread board end, loper supports, highly developed serpentine interior featuring a removable dovetailed prospect box with hinged paneled door with hidden rear drawer, when removed reveals hidden drawers, flanked by two document drawers with rare hinged top lid, eight serpentine small drawers, eight pigeon holes, the case with four graduated flush drawers featuring raised panel (in the solid), the original base with bowed skirt and bracket feet.

44.5 x 39.5 x 22 in., case width 38.25 in.

A secondary wood identification report from Alden Identification Service accompanies this Lot.

A highly developed example for the form with rare interior and original feet. As explained by David Williams in the Eden Historical Commission article on Early Southern Furniture, the stepped and serpentine amphitheater is one of several stylistic characteristics shared by desks from the Eastern Virginia region, including the desk attributed to Mardun Eventon, King William County, Virginia, as well as earlier examples such as the circa 1710-1730 "Red Mulberry Master" desk attributed to Tidewater, Virginia.

Literature:
David Williams, P. E. Collie, Mike Marshall,The Use of Red Mulberry in Early Southern Furniture, Edenton Historical Commission, 2024, p. 1-82.

Light staining to interior lid and small divot; drawer runners and drawer guides rebuilt; later pulls; slant lid with square patch at right side; two cut, patch and repairs to each case side.