Drop-front Desks with Fold-Open Writing Surfaces Photos

Desks often have to reach a compromise between having enough knee room to write and not having the writing surface in the way when not in use. One common method was the drop-front desk where the work surface was opened only when needed. Another technique to reach the same objective was to have a hinged writing surface which unfolded forward when needed.

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Fold down desk which belonged Jesse Deane son of Silas at Silas Deane House. Wethersfield, CT.Tambour desk attrib. to John Seymour & Thomas Seymour of Boston at National Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.Mahogany & pine Federal-style tambour desk made in Boston, MA at Chrysler Museum of Art. Norfolk, VA.Mahogany desk from New England or New York & Windsor chair from PA or Southern U.S. in West Virginia period parlor at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.
Fold down desk which belonged Jesse Deane (1764-1828) son of Silas at Silas Deane House. Wethersfield, CT.Tambour desk (1793-8) attrib. to John Seymour & Thomas Seymour of Boston at National Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.Mahogany & pine Federal-style tambour desk (1796-1810) made in Boston, MA at Chrysler Museum of Art. Norfolk, VA.Mahogany desk (1800-15) from New England or New York & Windsor chair (1780-1810) from PA or Southern U.S. in West Virginia period parlor (early 19thC) at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.
Desk & bookcase probably from Charleston in South Carolina period bedchamber at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.Desk from New Hampshire at Craik-Patton House. Charleston, WV.Desk & bookcase by Jonathan Judkins & William Senter of Portsmouth, NH at Currier Museum of Art. Manchester, NH.Alabama period parlor with Mahogany desk & bookcase from New York City at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.
Desk & bookcase probably from Charleston (1810-20) in South Carolina period bedchamber at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.Desk (1810) from New Hampshire at Craik-Patton House. Charleston, WV.Desk & bookcase (1813) by Jonathan Judkins & William Senter of Portsmouth, NH at Currier Museum of Art. Manchester, NH.Alabama period parlor (1835-40) with Mahogany desk & bookcase (1820-40) from New York City at DAR Memorial Continental Hall. Washington, DC.
Mahogany fall front desk by Donn & Co. of Washington at Smithsonian Castle. Washington, DC.Desk owned by Fernando Veramendi of San Antonio at Spanish Governor's Palace. San Antonio, TX.Fold-open writing desk at Bragg-Mitchell Mansion. Mobile, AL.Desk with fold-open writing surface & bookcase at Conde-Charlotte Museum. Mobile, AL.
Mahogany fall front desk (c1835-40) by Donn & Co. of Washington at Smithsonian Castle. Washington, DC.Desk (2nd half 19thC) owned by Fernando Veramendi of San Antonio at Spanish Governor's Palace. San Antonio, TX.Fold-open writing desk at Bragg-Mitchell Mansion. Mobile, AL.Desk with fold-open writing surface & bookcase at Conde-Charlotte Museum. Mobile, AL.
Fold open desk & bookcase at Pardee Home Museum. Oakland, CA.Drop front desk with glassed bookcase in master bedroom at Phelps-Hathaway House. Suffield, CT.Desk in Buckingham-Hall House at Mystic Seaport. Mystic, CT.Desk & bookcase in parlor of House Where Lincoln Died. Washington, DC.
Fold open desk & bookcase at Pardee Home Museum. Oakland, CA.Drop front desk with glassed bookcase in master bedroom at Phelps-Hathaway House. Suffield, CT.Desk in Buckingham-Hall House at Mystic Seaport. Mystic, CT.Desk & bookcase in parlor of House Where Lincoln Died. Washington, DC.
Drop-front desk in Woodrow Wilson Boyhood Home. Augusta, GA.Fold-out desk in Oldest Frame House of Mission House Museum. Honolulu, HI.Writing desk at Destrehan Plantation. Destrehan, LA.Antique desk with bookcase at Oak Alley Plantation. Vacherie, LA.
Drop-front desk in Woodrow Wilson Boyhood Home. Augusta, GA.Fold-out desk in Oldest Frame House of Mission House Museum. Honolulu, HI.Writing desk at Destrehan Plantation. Destrehan, LA.Antique desk with bookcase at Oak Alley Plantation. Vacherie, LA.
Desk in parlor at Nichols House Museum. Boston, MA.Desk owned by Henry David Thoreau's family at Concord Museum. Concord, MA.Drop front writing desk & bookcase in President's Bedroom at Peacefield. Quincy, MA.Stove & desk in parlor of Mark Twain Boyhood Home. Hannibal, MO.
Desk in parlor at Nichols House Museum. Boston, MA.Desk owned by Henry David Thoreau's family at Concord Museum. Concord, MA.Drop front writing desk & bookcase in President's Bedroom at Peacefield. Quincy, MA.Stove & desk in parlor of Mark Twain Boyhood Home. Hannibal, MO.
Fold-top desk & bookcase at Chatillon-DeMenil Mansion. St. Louis, MO.Writing desk in Pierce Manse. Concord, NH.Dropfront desk in parlor at Sherwood-Davidson House. Newark, OH.Dropfront desk & bookcase at Johnston Farm. Piqua, OH.
Fold-top desk & bookcase at Chatillon-DeMenil Mansion. St. Louis, MO.Writing desk in Pierce Manse. Concord, NH.Dropfront desk in parlor at Sherwood-Davidson House. Newark, OH.Dropfront desk & bookcase at Johnston Farm. Piqua, OH.
Bedroom desk at Chateau-sur-Mer. Newport, RI.Neoclassical ladies desk attrib. John & Thomas Seymour in Boston under portrait of Sarah Trumbull by John Trumbull in Federal Parlor at Bayou Bend. Houston, TX.Bedroom with desk & cast iron stove in Yates House at Sam Houston Park. Houston, TX.Fold-down desk with book case beside fireplace at Woodrow Wilson Birthplace. Staunton, VA.
Bedroom desk at Chateau-sur-Mer. Newport, RI.Neoclassical ladies desk attrib. John & Thomas Seymour in Boston under portrait of Sarah Trumbull by John Trumbull in Federal Parlor at Bayou Bend. Houston, TX.Bedroom with desk & cast iron stove in Yates House at Sam Houston Park. Houston, TX.Fold-down desk with book case beside fireplace at Woodrow Wilson Birthplace. Staunton, VA.
Fold-down top desk in master bedchamber of John Marshall House. Richmond, VA.


Fold-down top desk in master bedchamber of John Marshall House. Richmond, VA.


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All photos on this page are originals by & copyrighted by Jim Steinhart.
All rights reserved. Permission required to use.

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