An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
Desk and Bookcasec. 1780–95
John Townsend
In the 1700s, Newport, Rhode Island, was the fifth largest city in North America and one of the most important centers of shipping and trade along the Eastern Seaboard. Orders for furniture from its celebrated cabinetmakers came in from far and wide. This desk and bookcase was likely made for Oliver Wolcott Sr., a signer of the Declaration of Independence and later governor of the State of Connecticut. Eventually, the desk passed down through his family to Dorothy Draper, an important 20th-century interior decorator, and ultimately to her daughter, Penelope Draper Buchanan, whose husband gave it to the museum after her death—a rare, unbroken line of succession.<br><br>Large desks were designed to hold all the necessary components of a gentleman’s office under lock and key: books, papers, pens and ink, and important documents. To serve such a function desks also became complicated masterworks of the cabinetmaker’s art, incorporating many parts from small drawers to large panels cut from a single tree, making them among the most expensive types of furniture available. This desk and bookcase exhibits the characteristic traits of classic Newport furniture—“plum pudding” mahogany, cupcake-like finials, and a carved shell on the inside of the desk.
This desk and bookcase was likely made for Oliver Wolcott Sr., a signer of the Declaration of Independence and later governor of Connecticut.
"Plum pudding" mahogany, red cedar, chestnut, white pine, brass
Overall: 240 x 108 x 64.8 cm (94 1/2 x 42 1/2 x 25 1/2 in.)
Gift of Harvey Buchanan in memory of Penelope Draper Buchanan and Dorothy Tuckerman Draper
Once upon a time, in the bustling heart of the 1700s, Newport, Rhode Island, stood as a vibrant testament to ambition and trade. It was a city that pulsed with energy, the fifth largest in all of North America, its docks alive with the hum of ships bringing goods from distant shores. Each bustling marketplace echoed the orders of esteemed merchants—requests for finely crafted furniture that practiced the delicate art of blending beauty and utility. Among the most celebrated cabinetmakers, one piece shone particularly bright—a majestic desk and bookcase.
This wasn’t just any desk; it was likely fashioned for Oliver Wolcott Sr., a revered signer of the Declaration of Independence and a man who would go on to guide the State of Connecticut as its governor. With every curve and grain of the wood, the desk whispered secrets of a time when visions of freedom and democracy sparked fervor across the land.
As generations turned like delicate pages in a book, this remarkable piece found its way through familial hands, ultimately gracing the life of Dorothy Draper. Known for her transformative work as a 20th-century interior decorator, Draper infused spaces with bold colors and dazzling designs, further adding to the desk's storied past. In the hands of her daughter, Penelope Draper Buchanan, the desk remained a cherished heirloom until the world, in its cyclical nature, nudged her to pass it on—her husband gifting it to a museum, securing its legacy for all to witness. This unbroken chain of ownership, each link steeped in history, was truly extraordinary.
The desk, vast and commanding, was purposefully designed to house a gentleman’s essence, holding everything he'd need under lock and key—books brimming with knowledge, papers rustling with potential, pens ready to ink grand ideas, and important documents that could shape a nation. It became not merely a piece of furniture but a masterful creation, meticulously crafted by skilled hands. Each drawer, small but significant, and every large panel, cut from a single tree, spoke of masterful artistry. The labor of love imbued within its design made desks like these among the finest and most sought after of their time.
Examining the desk and bookcase, one can’t help but appreciate its classic Newport traits—“plum pudding” mahogany gleaming with timeless elegance, cupcake-like finials adding a dash of whimsy, and a delicately carved shell nestled within its depths, hinting at the ocean’s embrace. This piece wasn’t just built to serve; it was crafted to inspire, echoing stories of the past while captivating those who dare to dream of the future.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
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