davenports
Davenport. A small writing desk used by ladies, usually with a sloped top insert with leather, a cupboard, slides and drawers for holding pens and paper. There is generally a row of drawers down one side, with false drawers on the opposing side, and the top is surmounted by a brass or fretwork gallery. Made to be freestanding, davenports are finished and polished on all four sides.
Piano top davenports, so called because the lid resembled that of a rounded piano lid, were introduced in about the 1830s. These 'top-of-the-range' piano front davenports usually include a rise and fall secret section, operated by a concealed button above a drawer operating via a system of counter balanced weights concealed in a cavity at the side of the main body, a and a well fitted pull out writing slope, drawers to one side and opposing dummy drawers.
There are very few Australian made davenports.
Piano top davenports, so called because the lid resembled that of a rounded piano lid, were introduced in about the 1830s. These 'top-of-the-range' piano front davenports usually include a rise and fall secret section, operated by a concealed button above a drawer operating via a system of counter balanced weights concealed in a cavity at the side of the main body, a and a well fitted pull out writing slope, drawers to one side and opposing dummy drawers.
There are very few Australian made davenports.
2 item(s) found:
An unusual cedar portable davenport or wash-stand mid 19th century 98 x 63 x 51 cm Australian
A Victorian davenport, with gallery, the sloping top, enclosing small drawers, below side drawers with sham drawers on reverse, scrolled carved supports on bun feet, maker Lenehans Sydney