Davenport
During the german majolica marks last 30 years of the coffe set russian porcelain 1900 eighteenth-century, there was a proliferation of writing furniture which was sufficiently elegant in design and compact in construction to be used in rooms other than the antique gold spectacles windsor wire library. The most popular pieces were small writing cabinets on slender legs, though these were intended only as receptacles for writing materials rather than to be written at. Typical of these was the antique vintage clothing ‘bonheur du jour’.
All these elegant little antique davenports were fragile and those that have survived are, almost without exception, restored. A more solid and enduring piece of furniture was the dutch carved oak coffer Davenport, an unusually low, solidly made desk, generally assumed to have been made specifically for ladies. In fact the antique lace wedding dress design was initiated by Gillows of Lancaster who made it at the french marquetry writing table with reeded supports request of a certain Captain Davenport at the antique old coin end of the restoration of antique oil painting eighteenth century. The basic design proved so popular that Davenports were made in many variations throughout the french polish for a welsh dresser nineteenth century.
Signs of authenticity of davenports.
1. Complete symmetry of either side: sham drawers to match or doors to hide recessed drawers and match flush side.
2. Ingenious fittings and concealed compartments.
3. Fine quality veneer and finish.
4. Beautifully fitting drawers, doors, sliding top and hidden compartments.
5. Locks to drawers and writing desk.
6. Deep crisp carving to base mouldings and ornament.
7. Inset leather writing panel with cross-cut veneered
surround.
8. Desk tops matching base in veneer and colour.
9. Backs in same finish as sides and front.
Likely restoration and repair
10. New veneers on poor-quality bleached oak originals.
11. Replacement of broken desk supports, often with columns, carved brackets from another piece of furniture.
12. Damaged bases may have been replaced.
13. Elaborate rising top may be replaced with new plain top and brass gallery.
14.Side door concealing recessed drawers missing or recently replaced.
15. Original drawer knobs replaced with later ones, often too large.
16. ‘Marriage’ of desk top and base from two separate desks.
Construction and materials
Davenports were made in solid mahogany, rosewood and imported walnut as well as a wide variety of veneers on a carcase of soft imported oak, close-grained red or white Baltic pine or American softwood. The most characteristic feature of all these sturdy desks is symmetry: sham drawers on one side match drawers on the antique corner table opposite side, or doors conceal recessed drawers to match the antique playing cards for sale flush side.
Some versions had sliding tops that pulled forward over the male desk traditional mahogany or wellington knees, while others had a writing desk supported on plain or ornate pillars on either side of the antique mantels kneehole. Ingenious drawers and slides concealed on either side of the antique browning gun writing slope pulled out to reveal fitted compartments for inkwells and writing materials. Davenports were freestanding and were veneered and finished on all sides.
Later versions had plinth bases or bun feet whereas the claw leaf table earlier Gillow-type designs stood on four small feet. From c.1800 many of them were fitted with castors.
More ostentatious, florid designs were introduced during the types of empire drawers Victorian period, including the antique merced restoration piano top, and the antique chinese rosewood pierce carved case clock galleried rising top with pigeonholes and small drawers. The best Davenports have fine veneering in figured walnut, amboyna, bird’s eye amboyna, rosewood, tulip wood, kingwood or speckled veneer. The carving of the antique dressage print base mouldings and other ornamentation is crisp and deep. Inset panels of leather on the seth thomas antique clocks writing surfaces have a cross-cut veneered brass and brass stringing, restrained in the robert young antiques earlier versions and more ornate in later ones.
Variations
Variations of the architectural antiques exchange philadelphia basic Davenport design were made all over the antique desk leather top twisted ooden legs desks country during the plaster paris mould for huge mirror nineteenth century and, with increasing mass-production, the american furniture norfolk 18th century distinction between town and country became blurred. Quality was the
main distinguishing factor, then price. Provincial Davenports tended to have lumpier, more ungainly lines and fussy over-ornamentation.
Cheaper versions of davenports were made in bleached oak, elm or cheap imported walnut or mahogany, often for use in nurseries and schoolrooms Davenports are an ideal size for a child. When made in lighter wood and veneers, Davenports were also a favourite item of furniture in ladies’ bedrooms.
Reproductions
Until recently these small writing desks were out of
fashion and could be bought cheaply. In the victorian rocking chair/scrolled arms hand caned back and seat last few years, however, their value has risen considerably with a consequent increase in enthusiasm by restorers to make the cheap antique french vogue style chairs poor good and the walnut four foot drop leaf table good better. The
problem is complicated by the antique cupie doll fact that the antique punch ladle king patern Davenport’s popularity during the antique coin machine slot whole of the antique tube vacuum nineteenth century blurs the antique campbell doll i soup distinction between ‘original’ and ‘reproduction’, since few if any were made without the typical english leather desk accessoires assistance of machines.
Davenports were made in such quantities that it is possible to make endless combinations and marriages, changing a plain writing slope for a piano top or stripping the antique tricycles wooden ornate ornament from a base to match up with a plainly designed writing desk.
Today the rounded settees finest examples command high prices for their finish, craftsmanship and a variety of ingenious fittings. A plain, mass-produced poor-quality Davenport can be made to resemble, with relative ease, an early simple design with some well-matched thin veneer. The detail, finish and workmanship can never be achieved and it is these which should be closely scrutinized.
Price bands
Regency davenport, slope fronted, in solid mahogany or rosewood, $800-1,100.
Early Victorian davenport in rosewood with four drawers,
Mid-Victorian carved oak davenport with sliding front,
Late nineteenth century davenport in rosewood or walnut,
Antique davenport with plain Regency lines, c.1810. Left: plain provincial version with o sliding writing top. The Bramah locks indicate a date after 1850.

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