Fold-open Lap Desks Photos

One type of portable desk was called the lap desk. It was a wooden box diagonally cut into two or three sections which unfolded as a sloped writing surface, usually covered with green felt. While called a lap desk, it was usually used on a table.

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Portable fold-open writing desk at Conde-Charlotte Museum. Mobile, AL.Portable writing desk, navigation instruments & other objects used by Corps of Discovery on Lewis & Clark expedition at Museum of Idaho. Idaho Falls, ID.Portable writing desk on octagonal table in Lincoln home. Springfield, IL.Inlaid eagle lap desk at 1749 Court House Museum. Plymouth, MA.
Portable fold-open writing desk at Conde-Charlotte Museum. Mobile, AL.Portable writing desk, navigation instruments & other objects used by Corps of Discovery on Lewis & Clark expedition at Museum of Idaho. Idaho Falls, ID.Portable writing desk on octagonal table in Lincoln home. Springfield, IL.Inlaid eagle lap desk (c1776) at 1749 Court House Museum. Plymouth, MA.
Parlor with Windsor chair & lap desk on table at Rev. John Hale House. Beverly, MA.Field desk of Gen. Stephen Watts Kearny who took control of New Mexico in the Mexican-American War at New Mexico History Museum. Santa Fe, NM.Folding card table & lap desk with late classical style wardrobe beyond at Lindenwald. Kinderhook, NY.Portable antique lap desk at Alice Austen House Museum. Staten Island, NY.
Parlor with Windsor chair & lap desk on table at Rev. John Hale House. Beverly, MA.Field desk of Gen. Stephen Watts Kearny who took control of New Mexico in the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) at New Mexico History Museum. Santa Fe, NM.Folding card table (1830-40) & lap desk with late classical style wardrobe (1830-40) beyond at Lindenwald. Kinderhook, NY.Portable antique lap desk at Alice Austen House Museum. Staten Island, NY.
Travelling desk at Edison Birthplace Museum. Milan, OH.Lap desk & gimbaled candleholder at Columbia River Maritime Museum. Astoria, OR.Lucy Maude Montgomery's typewriter & lap desk at Green Gables. Cavendish, PE.Antique desk in office of Saskatchewan Government House. Regina, SK.
Travelling desk at Edison Birthplace Museum. Milan, OH.Lap desk & gimbaled candleholder at Columbia River Maritime Museum. Astoria, OR.Lucy Maude Montgomery's typewriter (1906) & lap desk at Green Gables. Cavendish, PE.Antique desk in office of Saskatchewan Government House. Regina, SK.
Field desk of General William Jenkins Worth at Fort Worth Museum of Science & History. Fort Worth, TX.Walnut writing table with Biedermeier legs & children's foot stools below at Museum of Texas Handmade Furniture. New Braunfels, TX.Writing case at Museum of Texas Handmade Furniture. New Braunfels, TX.Civil War writing desk & sword at Vermont History Center. Barre, VT.
Field desk (1800-49) of General William Jenkins Worth at Fort Worth Museum of Science & History. Fort Worth, TX.Walnut writing table with Biedermeier legs & children's foot stools below at Museum of Texas Handmade Furniture. New Braunfels, TX.Writing case (1854) at Museum of Texas Handmade Furniture. New Braunfels, TX.Civil War writing desk & sword at Vermont History Center. Barre, VT.
Lady's writing box with view of Montreal from England at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.


Lady's writing box with view of Montreal (c1855-65) from England at Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, ON.


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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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