I was attracted to this tall stand up desk by the highly figured use of walnut throughout. It must have been quite a mighty tree that was selected for this desk, c.1800. This type of flaming walnut is so rare and expensive that it is primarily used to create veneers, but here everything is of solid flaming walnut, resulting in a desk that is very heavy to move. The feet are of the french style and have survived the heavy weight of this desk
The interior working surface is composed of a prospect door and drawers. This obviously was a serious working desk and if not for the magnificently flamed wood that beckoned me, I would not have given it much notice.
The history of this desk is also significant. It came to us through Doyle Auctions in New York, who were auctioning contents of the Mary Porter estate which included a number of printed items of family history. (Click here for her Obituary.). Mary Porter’s history cites that she was a philanthropist and humanitarian who died at age 98. Her father was Dr. Samuel Porter, whose brother was superintendent of the United States Mint in Philadelphia, and his uncle David Rittenhouse Porter was governor of Pennsylvania. Dr. Porter, like his daughter, had a very long life and built the Pottstown hospital, which is Northwest of Philadelphia. He also was an entrepreneur and president of the Pottstown Gas Company and others. The Porter family dates itself to Revolutionary General Andrew Porter (1742-1813) who served as Surveyor/General of Pennsylvania.
Also in this desk was a receipt by a cabinetmaker, Ernest F. Allmendinger, for the “Repair and refinish of old walnut slant top desk and 4 ivory escutcheons,” dated Nov. ‘45” for Dr .Porter.
For the lover of great woods, this is certainly a bonanza in a way like no other. It was recognized as a treasure by the family. Apparently, Mary living in New York had no family to give it to and made sure to pass it on with a good deal of family history in its drawer.
What this desk lacked in carved ornamentation, it made up for with wood choice that did the talking. Who am I to refuse? When it came up at auction, I seemed to be gravitating, in part, to a collection focusing on the slant top desk.
A Pennsylvania desk of similar design and proportions was offered by Pook & Pook, Inc. as part of “The Collection of Paul & Rita Flack” on October 13, 2018 (see images above for the auction listing).
Height: 51 in. Width: 36 1/2 in. Writing height: 39 in.
Revised Thu, Aug 28, 11:01 AM