Desk and Bookcase

Object/Artifact

-

Saco Museum

Name/Title

Desk and Bookcase

Entry/Object ID

1950.1.44

Description

Desk and bookcase, or secretary. The flat cornice is topped by a gallery with a central tablet with veneer inlay flanked by smaller reeded plinths at each end. The original finials are now missing and have been replaced by two small round brass clock finials in the reeded plinths. The upper case has two glazed doors, each with six large glass panels outlined by narrow strips of cross-banded veneer. The interior has three fixed shelves over eight pigeonoles, four drawers, and a center door compartment with a small drawer; it retains its original dark green stained finish. The lower case has a shallow fold-out writing surface supported by lopers; the base molding for the front of the upper case is attached to the edge of the writing surface. Below the writing surface are four graduated drawers with cock-beaded edges and string inlay. The original drawer pulls have stamped brass backplates with a star motif. The skirt has a central drop panel of satinwood veneer outlined by light-colored string inlay. The case is supported on French feet with small spurs.

Made/Created

Date made

1809 - 1816

Dimensions

Height

85-13/16 in

Width

48-13/16 in

Depth

19-3/4 in

Material

birch, pine, mahogany and satiwood veneer, glazing

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Object Label

Label

Secretary Bookcase, 1809-1816 Saco, attributed to the shop of Joshua Cumston and David Buckminster mahogany, mahogany and birch veneer, pine John S. Locke Collection, gift of the estate of Almira Locke McArthur

Label Type

Cultural/Historical Context

Label

This secretary originally belonged to Daniel Cleaves, a well-to-do merchant in Biddeford. Desk and bookcase combinations were intended to house books, ledgers, correspondence, and other papers, as well as writing tools. As such, they served as a businessman's "office." Most had a standard combination of spaces: pigeonholes for correspondence, slots and shelves for ledgers or account books, and drawers for other storage. Small drawers held writing equipment: quills, ink and inkstands, powders (for blotting), papers, and ribbons for tying up correspondence. The green stained finish in the upper case is original, as are the drawer pulls. The pediment would have originally had either turned wooden or brass finials, now missing. When Cleaves died in 1818, his probate inventory included “1 mahogany secretary $30.” The only furniture items in the inventory with higher values were a sofa at $35 and a tall clock at $50. The desk was also listed in Sarah's estate in 1838 as a “secretary and bookcase,” but by then the value had dropped to $12.