Images(4)

Desk

Date1790-1800

Attributed to Stone and Alexander

Attributed to Samuel Stone

Attributed to Giles Alexander (fl. 1792 - 1796)

OriginAmerica, Massachusetts, Boston

MediumMahogany, white pine, and light and dark wood stringing.

DimensionsOH: 45"; OW: 46"; OD: 24 1/2"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1970-100

DescriptionSlant-front desk with flat, rectangular top, dovetailed to sides; sloped, rectangular lid with battened ends; central shaped escutcheon at top; lid lets down on two brass butt hinges and is supported by pair of rectangular slides, fronted with mahogany and surrounded by a narrow bead moldings; central brass pulls on each; interior of desk composed of upper row of pigeonholes, four on each side of central door, with ogee brackets above; central door inlaid in light and dark woods with central star surrounded by arch; oval brass escutcheon at top of door; door opens downwards and is removable (being attached only by lock at top and a small pin at bottom center, which fits into hole); behind door is a small pigeonhole with small drawer above with ogee bracket front, and lower drawer at base; below row of pigeon holes interior has two rows of drawers, the lower of which is stepped out; the upper row composed of a pair of small drawers on either side of the central door; the lower composed of three drawers, the center one larger than those on either side; each drawer has central brass pull; beneath lid, reverse serpentine front composed of four, full-length graduated drawers, each drawer surrounded by single bead molding; each drawer fitted with pair of large, shaped brass back plates with bail pulls, and matching central escutcheon; broad stepped base molding, serpentine in front; desk supported by four short cabriole legs with sharp knees, flanked by shaped brackets, and terminating in well-defined claw and ball feet.
InscribedInscription on back of drawer front of large middle drawer in desk interior: Repaired & finished by L.R. Fuller/ Jun 10-1901/ Shelburn Falls Mass".
Chalk inscription on underside of small top drawer behind door in desk interior: "70/66../8../...".
Shipping tag found in drawer of "H.S. Swan Company/ Dealers In/ Furniture/ Shelburn Falls, Massachusetts/". Writtin in ink above printed portion is: "Phillip Hadley PHD/ Ann Arbor/927 Cornwall Place Michigan." Tag now in Object File.
Ink inscription on early paper used to repair a split in a drawer bottom (3rd drawer from top): "W Michel M [J]ong.../M..../Bo...."
ProvenanceAccording to information supplied by source, contained in a letter written by a former owner in 1916, this desk was originally owned by a family named Grant who lived on Pinkney Street in Boston on or before 1800. It was given by the Grants as a wedding present to Mr. and Mrs. Cotton Strong of Boston (date unknown). The Strongs moved to Mount Holly, VT following their marriage. The desk descended to their daughter, Sara Grant Strong who married first, a Dr. Crowly of New Salem, Mass. and secondly Deacon Samuel S. Wright of Shelburne Falls, Mass. Following Mrs. Wright's death in 1901, the desk was purchased by a friend, Mrs. F. E. Fairbanks of Shelburne Falls for $75.00. She had it polished at Swan Co. [see tag found in drawer] for $9.00. Mrs. Fairbanks stated that the brasses were original to the desk. The desk apparently then passed through Mrs. Fairbanks' family until in 1955 it came into the possession of her great-grandson, Francis C. Hadley, also apparently of Shelburne Falls.

Based on this history, this desk may have originally been owned by Moses Grant, the prosperous Boston upholsterer and paper manufacturer who was a participant in the Boston Tea Party in 1773. Although, far as can be determined, he never lived on Pinkney street, which was not laid out until 1802, he did live nearby on Cambridge Street. It is also known that Cotton Strong worked as a paperhanger in Boston in the 1820s, almost certainly for the firm then being run by descendants of Moses Grant.