Portable desk
Encyclopedia
The portable desk
has not one but many forms. In a sense, the portable desk is a long-lost ancestor of the portable computer
, and the modern laptop
could be considered an atavistic grandchild of the 19th-century Lap desk
.
It seems that all desks were portable to some extent, from medieval times to the end of the Renaissance, with the exception of built-in tables and inclined ranks of desks found in places such as the scriptorium or library of a monastery
. This was due to the itinerant nature of medieval kingship and the similar conditions that prevailed in lesser administrations under dukes or counts. There was rarely a single capital for a kingdom, and the monarch and his (or her) court would travel periodically between several seats of power during the year, taking precious goods and quite a lot of furniture with them. A good example of this is Henry VIII's writing desk
. The traditional French words for furniture - "le mobilier" and "les meubles" - reflect this. They describe those goods that are "mobile", in contrast to those that are not: "les immeubles", that is, buildings.
The desks we see in medieval woodcuts and other illustrations of the period were massive affairs, but they seemed to be capable of haulage by several men or of being made of pieces that could be knocked down for transport. The Trestle desk
was a common form for the period. It was usually fitted with a slanted top.
In the homes of lesser nobles and certain members of the merchant
classes the portable furniture never traveled very far. Most domestic life took place in a single large hall. Furniture was constantly shifted around, stored and often disassembled to suit the role the great room was playing at a particular time in the day or the month.
or Vargueno, a chest desk from 16th-century Spain, and the relatively small Bible box
, which probably had a later origin. These two forms are usually not employed as portable desks any more, but they are bought and sold as antiques or as reproductions and usually valued as much for their monetary worth or their esthetic appeal as for their practical use.
The lap desk
appeared sometime in the 17th century and became a stylish accessory for traveling gentlemen. Like the Bible box, the lap desk was usually small enough to be carried on a horse or by a gentleman's butler or valet. From the 18th century onwards, however, it grew in size and became too heavy to be used comfortably on a lap. Several regional variations, such as the French Escritoire
were developed.
At the other end of the scale, the 17th century saw the appearance of several other kinds of "chest" desks, such as those destined for use in ships or for getting paperwork done during a military campaign. These were usually known as the Campaign desk
and the Field desk
.
With the advent of clean writing surfaces in every home or place of business and of the small and clean pocket fountain pen
and the pencil
, a gentleman did not need to include a lap desk in his luggage. There was no need for a container for the quill
, the blotter, and the sand tray or for the writing surface this container could offer. Ships eventually were constructed with built-in desks, making the portable desk obsolete in maritime environments.
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...
has not one but many forms. In a sense, the portable desk is a long-lost ancestor of the portable computer
Portable computer
A portable computer is a computer that is designed to be moved from one place to another and includes a display and keyboard. Portable computers, by their nature, are generally microcomputers. Portable computers, because of their size, are also commonly known as 'Lunchbox' or 'Luggable' computers...
, and the modern laptop
Laptop
A laptop, also called a notebook, is a personal computer for mobile use. A laptop integrates most of the typical components of a desktop computer, including a display, a keyboard, a pointing device and speakers into a single unit...
could be considered an atavistic grandchild of the 19th-century Lap desk
Lap desk
-Antique lap desk:As an antique the lap desk is a smaller variant of the writing slope. It is also called a writing box or a writing cabinet. In certain instances it is known as a portable desk, a term which is usually applied to larger forms. Most antique lap desks are really meant to be used on...
.
Medieval and renaissance portables
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
. This was due to the itinerant nature of medieval kingship and the similar conditions that prevailed in lesser administrations under dukes or counts. There was rarely a single capital for a kingdom, and the monarch and his (or her) court would travel periodically between several seats of power during the year, taking precious goods and quite a lot of furniture with them. A good example of this is Henry VIII's writing desk
Henry VIII's writing desk
Henry VIII's writing desk was made in about 1525-6, it is a product of the royal workshops and is lavishly embellished with ornamental motifs introduced to Britain by continental artists...
. The traditional French words for furniture - "le mobilier" and "les meubles" - reflect this. They describe those goods that are "mobile", in contrast to those that are not: "les immeubles", that is, buildings.
The desks we see in medieval woodcuts and other illustrations of the period were massive affairs, but they seemed to be capable of haulage by several men or of being made of pieces that could be knocked down for transport. The Trestle desk
Trestle desk
There are two kinds of trestle desks, the antique form and the modern improvisation.-Antique trestle desk:The antique trestle desk is usually very much like the writing table desk form, which offers a simple flat desktop surface with a few drawers underneath it...
was a common form for the period. It was usually fitted with a slanted top.
In the homes of lesser nobles and certain members of the merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
classes the portable furniture never traveled very far. Most domestic life took place in a single large hall. Furniture was constantly shifted around, stored and often disassembled to suit the role the great room was playing at a particular time in the day or the month.
Varguenos and bible boxes and other chests
There are two survivors of these medieval and renaissance forms: The rather large Bargueno deskBargueno 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...
or Vargueno, a chest desk from 16th-century Spain, and the relatively small Bible box
Bible box
A Bible box is a small container originally meant to store and/or use a Bible.In much of Europe this kind of box was produced in many different materials, such as wood, metal or ceramics, in simple or extremely ornate styles. Bible boxes were popular in the 17th century...
, which probably had a later origin. These two forms are usually not employed as portable desks any more, but they are bought and sold as antiques or as reproductions and usually valued as much for their monetary worth or their esthetic appeal as for their practical use.
The lap desk
Lap desk
-Antique lap desk:As an antique the lap desk is a smaller variant of the writing slope. It is also called a writing box or a writing cabinet. In certain instances it is known as a portable desk, a term which is usually applied to larger forms. Most antique lap desks are really meant to be used on...
appeared sometime in the 17th century and became a stylish accessory for traveling gentlemen. Like the Bible box, the lap desk was usually small enough to be carried on a horse or by a gentleman's butler or valet. From the 18th century onwards, however, it grew in size and became too heavy to be used comfortably on a lap. Several regional variations, such as the French Escritoire
Escritoire
An escritoire or secretary desk comes in various styles. One version is a small, portable writing desk with a sloping front door, hinged at the bottom edge, that can be opened downwards to provide a writing surface. It is usually larger than a lap desk...
were developed.
At the other end of the scale, the 17th century saw the appearance of several other kinds of "chest" desks, such as those destined for use in ships or for getting paperwork done during a military campaign. These were usually known as the Campaign desk
Campaign desk
A campaign desk is an antique desk of normal size which was used by officers and their staffs in rear areas during a military campaign.The campaign desk was usually the private property of the officer, as was his uniform and other military implements. It was in general handcrafted by a master...
and the Field desk
Field desk
A field desk is a portable desk which is meant to be used in rear areas near a battlefield and moved around rather frequently in difficult conditions. It is in contrast to the campaign desk, which is usually heavier and meant for areas further in the rear....
.
Ubiquity kills off the portables
Most portable desks gradually disappeared during the 19th century, as useful day-to-day writing tools. The introduction of mass literacy during that period, the invention of cheaper and more efficient writing implements, and the mass production of furniture made most portable desks redundant.With the advent of clean writing surfaces in every home or place of business and of the small and clean pocket fountain pen
Fountain pen
A fountain pen is a nib pen that, unlike its predecessor the dip pen, contains an internal reservoir of water-based liquid ink. The pen draws ink from the reservoir through a feed to the nib and deposits it on paper via a combination of gravity and capillary action...
and the pencil
Pencil
A pencil is a writing implement or art medium usually constructed of a narrow, solid pigment core inside a protective casing. The case prevents the core from breaking, and also from marking the user’s hand during use....
, a gentleman did not need to include a lap desk in his luggage. There was no need for a container for the quill
Quill
A quill pen is a writing implement made from a flight feather of a large bird. Quills were used for writing with ink before the invention of the dip pen, metal-nibbed pens, the fountain pen, and, eventually, the ballpoint pen...
, the blotter, and the sand tray or for the writing surface this container could offer. Ships eventually were constructed with built-in desks, making the portable desk obsolete in maritime environments.
Survival of a few portables
The only modern survivors of all the antique forms of the portable desk are the bed variants of the lap desk and a series of standardized forms (following NATO specifications or others) of the field desk.See also the list of desk forms and types.