Portable desk
VC.95.19 a
Name/Title
Portable deskEntry/Object ID
VC.95.19 a-oDescription
Lap desk veneered with wood with very pronounced grain; green fabric interior. Contains a number of writing accessories; marks on both sand dispenser and inkwell, monibo (in rectangle), oi (in square), dow (above larger square); ki/ g tree shape m (in the larger square). a. Lap desk: The top is hinged and opens up into a sloped writing surface covered with two strips of leather so that the upper part can be opened. There is a hidden compartment lined with green watered silk in the desk's top. Above the writing surface is a compartment for pens and inkwells. When the writing surface is lifted, it reveals the compartment for writing accessories lined with green silk velvet. In the desk's frame, there is an end of a small brass rod visible. When the rod is pulled out, in unlocks a drawer for the stationery, which occupies the lower portion of the desk. The drawer is lined with green watered silk. There is an octagonal shaped inlay in brass in the center of the desk's top. All eight corners are also inlaid with bras. The outside of the desk's bottom is lined with green felt. b. U-shaped wooden pen tray. 8 1/4 x 1/2" c. Silver plated copper sand dispenser of cubical shape; on top it has a round deepened portion with nine holes. 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 x 1 1/4" d. Silver-plated copper inkwell, with glass lining. 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 x 1 1/8" e. Mother-of-pearl rectangle, with a shield-shaped groove in the center. 4 3/4 x 1/2" f. Mother-of-pearl quill pen with decorative top part of the handle and shield-shaped brass inlay. 5" long g. Steel scissors. Both handles are decorated with bulbous balusters, which form a heart-shaped opening when the scissors are closed. 4 7/8 x 1 3/4" h. Writing scraper (eraser) with mother-of-pearl handle with mushroom-shaped top and spade-shaped tip. The edges of the tip are very sharp. There is a shield shaped brass inlay in the center of the handle. 4 1/2" long i. Part of a mother-of-pearl letter opener. Handle is decorated with a bulbous baluster. 4 1/2 " long. j. Letter opener, made of mother-of pearl, with shield-shaped brass inlay and an inverted mushroom-shaped handle decoration. 4 7/8" long. k. Knife with a pointed mother-of-pearl handle and a very narrow pointed blade. 5 1/2 x 1/2" l. Steel awl with mother-of-pearl handle in shape of a vase with a round knob on top of it. Has shield-shaped brass inlay. 5 3/8 x 1 1/8" m. Part of a mother-of-pearl knife. 3 3/4 x 3/8" n. Seal with mother-of-pearl handle in shape of a vase with a round knob on top of it. Has shield-shaped brass inlay. The seal tip is octagonal, without any pattern. 3 1/4 x 1 1/8" o. Mother-of-pearl quill pen with decorative top part of the handle and shield-shaped brass inlay. 5" long.Collection
Van Cortlandt Manor Object CollectionMade/Created
Artist Information
Artist
UnknownAttribution
MakerDate made
circa 1820Inscription/Signature/Marks
Type
InscriptionTranscription
See descriptionOther Names and Numbers
Other Numbers
VC.95.19 A-O
VC.95.19