AMERICAN FEDERAL INLAID MAHOGANY CYLINDER DESK
Maryland, probably Baltimore or Annapolis circa 1800-10
44 1/4" H x 22 5/8" D x 44 1/4" W
30 5/8" knee clearance with writing surface withdrawn
19 1/2" D x 42 7/8" W writing surface
Mahogany primary woods, mahogany veneers, tulip poplar secondary woods, brass hardware
An American Federal inlaid mahogany cylinder desk of compact architectural form, the cylinder lid mechanically tied to the withdrawing writing surface so that the opening of the slide simultaneously raises the roll top. The case is constructed with a flush top, without a projecting upper edge, above a cylinder front, fitted interior, a series of three lower drawers, shaped apron and delicate outward splayed French feet.
The interior is arranged with a lower row of five blind drawers that are drawn forward as the top is raised, these situated beneath two banks of pigeonholes with scalloped valances, each side fitted with four letter compartments above two small drawers. These flank a central prospect door inlaid with an oval shaded patera. The prospect door opens to reveal a small interior drawer, the underside of which carries later writing reading: “Samuel Peck / White Creek / Woods Hole / Mass. / Desk about 1812 / 1950.”
Two very closely related examples include the desk in the collection of the Baltimore Museum of Art (6) and the desk in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago (7). The Baltimore Museum's desk happens to be the cover picture for their reference text (6). Both of which feature the cylinder top and delicate splayed feet, albeit with a serpentine apron instead of a gentle bow, while the Baltimore Museum of Art example features the identical lobed patera on the prospect door within the desk as the present example. The example in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, formerly with Israel Sack (vol. VII, fig. P5103), features a similar placement of the patera, though as an idealized shell, also framed with stringer inlays with inverted corners. Dimensions of the two desks and the present example are very similar to within 2". While the inverted corner rectilinear inlay of the drawers is somewhat widespread and not closely identified with a single work-center, the presence of the exact same framing of the drawers in those two examples and the present example is noteworthy.
A closely related inlaid patera is illustrated in Montgomery, where it appears in the crest of a circa 1790 to 1800 cylinder fall secretary desk believed to be from Maryland.(1) This patera is also found on the labeled bow-front chest of drawers on splayed French feet by John Shaw of Annapolis, Maryland circa 1793. It is a recurrent design in John Shaw's work found in the same text as catalog no. 24, 27, 40, and 53, as well as no. 55 with some more detail added in the center of the inlay (and also featured on the cover of the book).(5) The dramatic swoon of the apron is an exaggeration of the bow-front chest of drawers Weismann discusses, having the same unusual treatment of the top with its flush profile to the case.(2) It is interesting to note that the form also relates to a group of Federal butler’s desks from New York work centers including several on beautifully tapered outward splaying legs with identical bowed aprons.
Provenance: Private collection, Maryland. Reputedly acquired from Philip Bradley Antiques. Old label to interior drawer from Americana dealer C. W. Lyon, Inc., New York.
Condition: Old refinish, with a mellow shellac surface throughout. Extensive losses to the extreme edge stringer inlays. A few veneer patches, including a larger filled patch to the proper left front foot side return, filled losses within a breakout at the proper left back foot, and the proper left front foot reattached and glued at one point. Old baize writing surface with staining and wear. Pulls and locks appear to be original. Tiny veneer loss to the edge of the withdrawing writing surface on the proper right side, together with several replaced veneer pieces. Backboards appear untouched. No key.
References:
1. Charles F. Montgomery, American Furniture: The Federal Period 1788 to 1825, New York: Viking Press, 1966, pp. 39, 236 to 237.
2. Gregory R. Weidman, Furniture in Maryland 1740-1940, Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore: Schneidereith and Sons, 1984, pp. 123, fig. 78.
3. Christie's, New York, " Important American Furniture, Folk Art, Silver and Prints including The Garbisch Collection from the Sky Club", 21 January 2006, lot 846: American Federal cylinder-top secretary desk (upper added), Maryland, on splayed feet; achieved $ 14,400.
4. Christie's, New York, "Important American Furniture, Silver, Prints and Folk Art", 9 October 2002, lot 252: Federal Inlaid Mahogany Roll-Top Desk, Baltimore 1790-1810; achieved $ 11,352.
5. William Voss Elder III and Lu Bartlett, John Shaw: Cabinetmaker of Annapolis (Baltimore: The Baltimore Museum of Art, 1983), pp. 96 to 97, fig. 27.
6. William Voss Elder III and Jayne E. Stokes, American Furniture, 1680 to 1880: From the Collection of the Baltimore Museum of Art (Baltimore: The Baltimore Museum of Art, 1987), pp. 103 to 104, cat. 76.
7. Art Institute of Chicago, Cylinder Desk, John Bankston and Richard Lawson, Baltimore, c. 1785 to 1793, mahogany, mahogany and satinwood veneers, and tulipwood, 44 1/4 x 42 1/4 x 20 5/8 in., inv. 1981.291, accessed July 29, 2026. Link
ref. 606WKP04A
