Recognizing a Traditional Writing Desk

To many people, a writing desk is much more than a functional piece of furniture. It's a cherished accent piece and a symbol of their social standing and discerning taste.

No wonder that these stunning traditional desks are sought after to create a tastefully elegant look in stylishly decorated homes. In fact, classically-styled writing desks are always in demand for their beautiful designs, intricately detailed ornamentation and rich tones.

Classical Desk Designs The desk designs we are familiar with came into existence mostly in the 17th and 18th centuries. Desks originally from this era make extremely valuable antiques, and many modern desks are still modeled on their classical styles. In the first half of the 19th century, the mass production of desks began, using newer, steam-driven woodworking machinery. Since the demand for functional desks increased after the Industrial Revolution, unskilled labor was used to assemble them rapidly, bringing down the high standards of quality. However, limited quantities of finely-crafted desks continued to be constructed by master cabinet-makers for the homes and offices of the affluent. Here are some guidelines that will help you recognize and date a writing desk based on its design and craftsmanship.

Jacobean (1600-1690)
Jacobean design is an English style of furniture from the 15th century that resulted in some of the earliest classical writing desks. Jacobean design is medieval in appearance, with straight lines, rigid designs, and sturdy construction. It is usually decorated with ornate carvings of Acanthus leaves, acorns and geometric designs, and has a dark finish. Original Jacobean desks were usually made of black walnut or oak, and had thin strips of veneer used as decorative borders. Much early American furniture was patterned after this style.

William and Mary (1690-1725)
William and Mary is a European influenced style, named after the reign of William and Mary of England. This style has distinct Dutch and Chinese influences and is characterized by trumpet-turned legs terminating in a ball, bun or elaborately-carved Spanish foot. Floral or scroll motifs and Oriental lacquer-work are common details on furniture from this time. Writing desks created during the William and Mary era were usually made of black walnut, ebony wood, or holly, and had a graceful and refined look.

Queen Anne (1700-1755)
The Queen Anne style is a refinement of the William and Mary style, with a moderate proportion and an extremely graceful appearance. It is characterized by cabriole legs terminating in a ball-and-claw, pad or drake foot, with dovetail joints and batwing-shaped drawer pulls. This style is named after Queen Anne of England, who reigned from 1702-1714.

Georgian (1714-1760)
The Georgian style is a more ornate version of Queen Anne with heavier proportions. Elaborately carved cabriole legs, pad or ball-and-claw feet, ornate carvings, and pierced back splats are all common elements of this design. Georgian furniture often used gilding to add lustrous floral or geometric details. This style is named after George I and George II who reigned England from 1714-1760.

Chippendale (1750-1790)
The Chippendale style is named after British designer and cabinet maker Thomas Chippendale. The Chippendale style can be classified into three types - French influence, Chinese influence and Gothic influence. In the United States, the Chippendale style was a more elaborate development of the Queen Anne style with cabriole legs, ball-and-claw feet, and a broken pediment scroll-top on secretary desks. Chippendale desks were elegant and had a refined look.

Sheraton (1780-1820)
Named after the English designer Thomas Sheraton, this is a neoclassical style of furniture characterized by delicate straight lines, light construction, contrasting veneers and neoclassical motifs and ornamentation. The Sheraton style was very graceful and was the most reproduced style in the United States during the Federal period.

Shaker (1820-1860)
The Shaker style is characterized by straight tapered legs, woven chair seats, and mushroom-shaped wooden knobs. This light, simple and functional furniture design was produced by the religious group, the United Society of Believers, in self-contained communities in the United States.

Victorian (1840-1910)
The Victorian style draws its influence from gothic forms with heavy proportions, dark finishes, elaborate carvings, and ornamentation. It is named for Queen Victoria of England who reigned from 1837 to 1901, and was the first furniture style of mass production. A Victorian writing desk is usually extremely ornate with ball-and-claw or small round feet with a coiled appearance.

Arts and Crafts (1880-1910)
The Arts and Crafts style developed largely as a reaction to the over-industrialization of the furniture world. Arts and Crafts furniture was designed to be simple, natural, and functional. It was often handmade and had little ornamentation or unnecessary detail, as craftsmen instead took pleasure in creating natural pieces with a light feeling. This style of furniture is also referred to as Mission.