Name/Title
Worktable, New England, possibly Portsmouth, 1815-25Entry/Object ID
476Description
This worktable is the complete work station for an educated woman of the early 19th century. The top drawer contains a desk, complete with writing surface, ink and sand bottles, and storage space. The second drawer contains compartments to be used for sewing tools, while the bottom drawer has a work-bag attached to hold sewing projects. According to tradition (see below), it belonged to Anne Eustis Langdon, wife of Henry Sherburne Langdon and brother to William Eustis, who married Henry's sister Caroline. Anne and Henry lived in the John Paul Jones House for several years during the first two decades of the 19th century.
Furniture can possess different meanings for different audiences. For a collector, this table presents some issues in terms of its condition. Social historians, however, are interested in the role tables like this played in the daily activities of women, as it provided helpful features for sewing and writing, as noted above. Local historians and genealogists also find value in this table because it has a history of ownership by Anne Eustis Langdon (1771–1818), the wife of Henry Sherburne Langdon (1776–1858). Since Anne Langdon died in 1818, however, it is possible that this table was not used originally by her, but by one of her daughters. Pushing back the history of ownership of an object by a generation is not an uncommon practice.
Federal style mahogany veneer square work table with two drop leaves with rounded corners and rope turned legs. Table has two drawers, top drawer contains a velvet covered writing surface. Bottom 10 sections, one ink bottle, casters. Original brass pulls, escutcheons with lion head-shaped fixtures. Two drop leaves. Piece under drawer (third) to tack a sewing bag. Brass casters.Collection
Portsmouth Historical Society Curatorial CollectionAcquisition
Accession
476Source or Donor
Shackford, Ann L.Acquisition Method
GiftMade/Created
Date made
1815 - 1830Notes
Date: ca. 1815-1830Inscription/Signature/Marks
Notes
UDF21: adhesive label on the underside of the right leaf and on the underside of the bottom of the top drawer: “E. T. Phillips”; modern adhesive label with ink on underside of the left leaf: “G. G. Mother Langdons work Table A. L. Shackford”Dimensions
Height
28-3/4 inWidth
18 inDepth
18 in
