PHILADELPHIA, 1790-1810

The form and decorative treatment of this writing desk illustrates the design preferences of Federal-era Philadelphia and Baltimore that were introduced in the late 1780s. Distinguishing the work of the two cities, Philadelphia examples, as seen on the desk illustrated here, are more subdued in ornament and rely on patterns of contrasting woods for their decor. The array of inlaid ovals and mahogany veneer panels on this writing desk demonstrates this Philadelphia aesthetic and a similar abundance of inlaid panels is seen on a breakfront secretary signed by Philadelphia cabinetmaker Henry Connelly, illustrated in The Magazine Antiques (March 1980), p. 493. This desk also draws on English design sources of the period such as plate 50 in Thomas Sheraton’s The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer’s Drawing Book (London, 1802), p. 406 (private communication from Chistopher T. Rebollo, 26 February 1998).