Plantation desk
Encyclopedia
A Plantation desk is an antique desk
form. It is thought to have been originally used as a mail desk by postmen. The form is known to have been used on Southern plantations in the United States
, but it is not limited to them. For some time communities of Shakers
in New England built a large version of this form of desk. It was quite popular in the 19th century.
Basically, the Plantation desk is a Fall front desk
with a deeper stand or bottom part. The extra space or ledge of the bottom part of the desk serves as a support for the fall front, thus eliminating the need for retractable supports. Like a normal fall front desk the work surface must be cleared of all materials in order to raise it in a vertical position and thus close off the small drawers and pigeonholes set in front of the user.
While the fall front desk was developed by placing a chest on its side, on a stand made for it, to its exact dimensions (as is the case with the Bargueno desk
), the plantation desk form was devised by placing such a chest on its side, on a table a bit too deep for it. The fall front usually settles at a slight angle once it is open, in order to give a slanted work surface to the user.
Some plantation desks have two panel doors instead of a fall front and the ledge is hence much deeper since it serves as the main desktop surface.
See also the list of desk forms and types.
Desk
A desk is a furniture form and a class of table often used in a work or office setting for reading or writing on or using a computer. Desks often have one or more drawers to store office supplies and papers. Unlike a regular table, usually only one side of a desk is suitable to sit on . Not all...
form. It is thought to have been originally used as a mail desk by postmen. The form is known to have been used on Southern plantations in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, but it is not limited to them. For some time communities of Shakers
Shakers
The United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, known as the Shakers, is a religious sect originally thought to be a development of the Religious Society of Friends...
in New England built a large version of this form of desk. It was quite popular in the 19th century.
Basically, the Plantation desk is a Fall front desk
Fall front desk
The fall front desk can be considered the cousin of the Secretary desk. Both have a main working surface or desktop which does double duty as a cover to seal up papers and other items located in small shelves or small drawers placed one on top of the other in front of the user...
with a deeper stand or bottom part. The extra space or ledge of the bottom part of the desk serves as a support for the fall front, thus eliminating the need for retractable supports. Like a normal fall front desk the work surface must be cleared of all materials in order to raise it in a vertical position and thus close off the small drawers and pigeonholes set in front of the user.
While the fall front desk was developed by placing a chest on its side, on a stand made for it, to its exact dimensions (as is the case with the Bargueno desk
Bargueno desk
The Bargueño is a desk first produced in the 15th century that continues to be produced to this day. The only other style of desk which is known to have been continuously produced for so long is the trestle desk, but some authorities exclude this desk from consideration because in early times it...
), the plantation desk form was devised by placing such a chest on its side, on a table a bit too deep for it. The fall front usually settles at a slight angle once it is open, in order to give a slanted work surface to the user.
Some plantation desks have two panel doors instead of a fall front and the ledge is hence much deeper since it serves as the main desktop surface.
See also the list of desk forms and types.