An exceptional example of Southern Chippendale furniture, this walnut slant-front desk was crafted circa 1780 in Gates County, Eastern North Carolina. It embodies the refined proportions and enduring craftsmanship of late 18th-century American design, with clean lines, bracket feet, and a well-fitted interior of drawers, pigeonholes, and a central cupboard flanked by turned columns.
The desk’s warm, figured walnut retains a rich patina, complemented by period brass hardware and finely dovetailed case construction. Inside, the writing surface opens to reveal its original compartmentalized interior, designed for orderly storage of correspondence and valuables.
Accompanied by a letter of provenance from the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA), this piece is recognized as an important example of Eastern North Carolina cabinetmaking, adding both scholarly and collector appeal.
Condition: In excellent antique condition commensurate with age and use. Over its long life, it has received professional restoration, including a repaired trim section. The keyhole escutcheon is absent, and no key is present.
Solid, clean, and structurally sound, this desk is ready to be enjoyed in a study, library, or collector’s interior, where it will stand as both a functional work surface and a significant artifact of Southern craftsmanship.
Dimensions: 37″ W × 27″ D × 41″ H
Knee clearance: 31″
