Provenance: Louise Guerineau Myers; Metropolitan Museum of Art
Illustrated:
• Girl Scouts of the United States of America, Loan Exhibition of the 18th and Early 19th Century Furniture and Glass, no. 789
• McClelland, Nancy. Duncan Phyfe and the English Regency, 1795-1830, pl.123
e-mail Archive entry
RE: New York cylinder desk
From: Kenny, Peter
Fri, Nov 16, 2001 at 12:06 PMTo: Stanley Weiss
Dear Mr. Weiss,
I don’t precisely know why the desk was deaccessioned, there are few notes about the desk in ur records, only that 2 legs were repaired (no date) and that in December 1939 “replaced top member of end pigeon hole left hand facing.” In June 1935 the attribution to Duncan Phyfe was removed from MMA catalogue records by Marshall B. Davidson, who worked in the American Wing at the time. I preume that based on the demotion it was deaccessioned in 1956. We since have acquired a really superb NY cylinder desk and bookcase which is on view in our first floor galleries. Like the desk you have purchased, it too has the cylinder
top that pulls up as the writing surface is pulled forward. This is the way most NY cylinder desks I have seen all work. I don’t think the mechanism can be used to tie a piece to a specific shop, at least at this time.The mis-match of the numbers is confusing. I have compared pictires of the desk and it looks lock-on to tbe the former MMA piece. Check the repair history I’ve given you for forensic evidence to confirm.It is good to know that you have the desk. If you ever take detailed photographs of it, i would love a set. Next time I am in Providence I will make a point of visiting you to see the desk.
Yours sincerely,
Peter M. Kenny
Curator, American Decorative Arts
—–Original Message—–
From: Stanley Weiss
Sent: Friday, November 16, 2001 10:01 AM
To: Kenny, Peter
Subject: Re: New York cylinder desk
Dear Mr. Kenny,
Thank you very much for your kind response. The museum acc number is in fact clearly 31.44.18 marked in the top left inside drawer, the “8” is clear, and not a “0”. Interestingly, the drawers fit very tightly with almost a precision fitting, and above each of the two lower drawers is a “secret” drawer built in above which appears original to its construction. Unlike the flashy Boston
Seymour cylinder, this one operates with the pull slide under the cylinder activating the rise of the cylinder. This is something I have seen in English examples. The Boston examples are just pull-up cylinder types unconnected to a slide writing service. Says something about the quality of the shop that has produced this, I think. Although deaccessioned 46 years ago, I wonder why it was. I can understand, without a label, it’s anybody’s guess as to which shop produced it. I am curious about your input here. Hope to hear from you at your earliest convenience.
With kind regards,
Stanley Weiss
P.S. If you are ever in Providence, our home is a few blocks from RISD on College Hill…please do not hesitate to call and come by.
—– Original Message —–
From: “Kenny, Peter”
To: “‘Stanley Weiss'”
Cc: “Heckscher, Morrison”
Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2001 3:57 PM
Subject: RE: New York cylinder desk
> Dear Mr. Weiss,
> Mr. Heckscher did forward your e-mail message to me. Lucky you, you bought
> a cylinder desk that indeed was once owned by the MMA. It was deaccessioned
> in 1956. Look carefully at the acc. #, however, as I have it as 31.44.10.
> This table was once owned by the collector Louis Guernieau Myers. I’m glad
> to know it has a new home in Providence.
>
> Yours sincerely,
> Peter M. Kenny
> Curator, American Decorative Arts
>
> —–Original Message—–
> From: Stanley Weiss
> Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2001 2:11 PM
> To: Kenny, Peter
> Subject: Fw: New York cylinder desk
>
> Dear Mr. Kenny,
>
> I understand Mr. Heckscher has forwarded you the attached. Would very much
> appreciate knowing your thoughts on the subject.
>
> With kind regards,
>
> Stanley Weiss
>
> —– Original Message —–
> From: “Stanley Weiss”
> To: “Heckscher, Morrison”
> Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2001 2:08 PM
> Subject: New York cylinder desk
>
>
> > Dear Mr. Heckscher,
> >
> > I recently acquired a New York Sheraton cylinder desk at Sotheby’s, Hughes
> > estate, which is remarkably similar to the one in McClelland, plate 123,
> > stating “Now at the Metropolitan Museum”. I note in the top left drawer the
> > numbers 31.44.18, which appear to be museum numbers of some sort?? Is this
> > your desk?
> >
> > I also acquired the gentleman’s commode from the sale as I only know of two
> > other examples of the form, at Houston Fine Arts Museum and the Museum of
> > the City of New York…so Tom Michie of RISD and I are quite excited.
> >
> > Appreciate your information relative to above cylinder desk.
> >
> > With kind regards,
> >
> > Sincerely,
> > Stanley Weiss
> >
Height: 48 ½ in. Width: 35 ½ in.