Desk styles............. Illustrated FURNITURE Glossary.
Desk styles.............
Illustrated FURNITURE
Glossary.
Davenport (desk)
In America you sit on a davenport; in England you write on one.
The davenport desk is a small writing desk with a slanted lift top and drawers on the side, not on the front.The Victorian form was often made in small sizes to be used in a lady's bedroom.
The many drawers were of varied sizes to hold stationery, stamps, pens and other items used at a desk.
A davenport may have elaborate veneer and carved decorations
Origin: This desk owes its name to a captain Davenport who was the first to commission this particular design, from Gillows of London, near the end of the 18th century. In a sense then it could also be considered a Campaign desk though there are no records indicating if the captain was in the British Army or the Royal Navy.
Examples from Buffalo:
- Illustration above: Victorian - Private collection, Orchard Park, NY
