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Requires Photography
DEACESSIONED December 19, 2013
Desk
about 1870–80
Object Place: Probably Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Medium/Technique
Mahogany, chestnut, birch, yellow-poplar, tiger maple, other unidentified woods, leather
Dimensions
Overall: 82.6 x 149.9 x 75.2 cm (32 1/2 x 59 x 29 5/8 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Nancy G. Myers and Lawrence Coolidge
Accession Number1993.947
CollectionsAmericas
ClassificationsFurniture – Case furniture and boxes
DescriptionRectangular desk with top covered with recessed leather cover and with carved edge; front with a central drawer above a kneehole recess, flanked by tiers of three drawers, with the top drawer in each tier fitted with a lock and of shorter height, and with the bottom two drawers of equal size and fitted with a round wooden pull; each drawer front with floral carving against a stippled background; central drawer with winged griffins flanking a shield-shaped escutcheon; the desk sides contain a top panel carved with three roundels with floral carving above a lower panel carved with griffins flanking a shield; the upper part of the desk back contains three panels in line, with the side panels carved with gargoyles and the center panel with two cherubs and columns, outlined with a guilloche border; the stiles of the back are carved with masks; the base molding includes a shallow cove molding above an egg-and-dart molding above a base carved with athemia.
InscriptionsDrawers and drawer blades are numbered in pencil 1 through 6.
ProvenanceEarly history unknown, but may have been owned by Philip H. Sears and his descendants; 1967, acquired by the donors when they purchased the Second Harrison Gray Otis House, 85 Mount Vernon Street, Boston; 1993, Gift of Nancy G. Myers and Lawrence Coolidge (accession date: January 26, 1994); December 19, 2013, deaccessioned by the MFA.