Desk and Bookcase
Unknown Artist
1794
Medium
Maple, white pine
Dimensions
84 x 45 3/4 x 25 1/4 in. (213.4 x 116.2 x 64.1 cm)
Classification
Desk and bookcase
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Screven Lorillard, 1953
Accession Number
53.179.1a
Art Historical Context
This elegant *Desk and Bookcase* 1794 exemplifies early American Federal-period furniture, crafted during the young nation's optimistic post-Revolutionary years. Standing at an impressive 84 inches tall, this multifunctional piece served as both a writing desk and library storage, reflecting the growing literacy and administrative needs of prosperous households. Its generous dimensions—45¾ by 25¼ inches—suggest it was designed for a formal parlor or study, where owners could manage correspondence, books, and ledgers amid the era's neoclassical aspirations. Constructed from maple and white pin...