Thomas Jefferson Writing Desk Replica

[BamaPen]

Some time back, I saw an article on the lap desk that Thomas Jefferson designed for his own use and had made by a furniture maker. It is a writing slope of sorts, but designed so that he could use it in several different configurations, even while traveling in a carriage between his home in Virginia and the government in Philadelphia. It is said that he drafted the Declaration of Independence on this desk. The original is in the Smithsonian and plans made from it are available for sale on the internet.

 

I decided that I wanted one, but don't have the woodworking skills or equipment to make it, so I persuaded a friend to make one for me - I provided the wood. He made the desk from solid walnut and I found authentic replica hardware from Londonderry Brasses in Pennsylvania and fitted the hinges, drawer pull, and lock myself. I also found authentic baize (woven felt) for the writing surface and glued it in place.

 

I think the result is quite nice. Here's a picture of the finished desk:

 

 

For more pictures, visit this post on my blog: Thomas Jefferson Writing Desk

Edited January 13, 2014 by BamaPen

[Tberry010]

Looks very nice but more pictures please.

[kiavonne]

That's great!

 

Yes, more pictures, please.

[Aquinata]

Nice! Is the slope attached to the drawer part, or does it lean on it?

[BamaPen]

I've edited the original post to include a link to my blog where there are a number of other pictures. In that post there are also links to the source for the plans, etc.

 

The writing surface is hinged to the corner of the box containing the drawer, plus hinged in the middle. So, you can fold the bottom half of the surface over onto the top half and still have a small surface for writing or holding a book. The built-in prop that is supporting the top part of the surface can be folded flat and the entire desk becomes a small rectangular package.

 

One thing in particular that I admire about Jefferson's design is that the drawer, which can contain inkwells, quills, and writing material, is fully accessible while the writing surface is in use. Most traditional writing slopes store writing materials under the writing surfaces, making it somewhat more awkward to access things.

[scrivelry]

I also love this desk!

 

I have a few writing slopes (all of which need some TLC) and have been looking into them and trying to learn more about them. The very early ones used by military officers do frequently have a drawer in addition to the spaces under the writing surfaces, but this sort of went out of style in the later 19th century ones. They are bulkier, and it is a good question how much more can be effectively stored in them, since the spaces are oddly shaped. (This does not stop my admiring every one of them...) Jefferson, though, had a keen sense of wasted space - I remember that when I visited Monticello they told us that he felt grand staircases were a waste of space, and there isn't a grand staircase there - there are functional ones behind closed doors. This slope has no wasted space whatsoever.

 

T

Edited January 13, 2014 by scrivelry

[Gloucesterman]

Beautiful work. If it was good enough for Jefferson, it's good enough for me (when I can afford it :lol: )!

[fountainpagan]

Beautiful model.

More pictures of the details, please?

[BamaPen]

Beautiful model.

More pictures of the details, please?

There are detailed pictures on my blog. Click here to go to the post

[cellmatrix]

Very nice indeed!

Edited January 14, 2014 by cellmatrix

[fountainpagan]

All is beautifully made. Congratulations.

[my63]

That is a fantastic box, do you plan to use it or is it just for show?

Your friend is a skilled carpenter.

 

Michael

[sargetalon]

Very nice desk indeed. Great work as ususal!

[BamaPen]

That is a fantastic box, do you plan to use it or is it just for show?

Your friend is a skilled carpenter.

 

Michael

You know, I haven't decided what to do with it now that it is finished. The thrill was in the chase. I'd like to put it out so people can see it, but haven't found a suitable spot just yet.

[my63]

I think it should be seen I am considering loaning some of my slopes to my wife's primary school so the children can see and touch them.

[BamaPen]

I think it should be seen I am considering loaning some of my slopes to my wife's primary school so the children can see and touch them.

Michael, that's a good idea. I enjoy history, so perhaps I can connect with a school history class and use it to show them the way our forefathers had to communicate - without Facebook, email, Twitter, or such. This desk is actually a late 1700s version of the laptop computer!

 

John

[my63]

That is an excellent idea John I also enjoy history but prefer industrial history and how and why things were made.

I would love to have a go at making one of these boxes but I think my wood working days are finished now unfortunately.

Regards

Michael

[DrCodfish]

Wow, John, this is just the coolest thing! What is it about these arcane, obsolete, but incredibly fine had crafted gadgets that grab me? You can put the latest smart phone, Ipad, netbook, Xbox or other electronic gizmo down in front of me and it has about the same effect as putting it in front of the cat. But for me, this is like a steak in front of a hound dog. I'm salivating and would love to have one, but why?

 

I am a lefty overwriter, so actually using something like this would be about as practical as a giraffe on a skate board, but it sure would be nice, and I imagine it is even more beautiful in person.

 

Thanks so much for showing it, ... I think.

 

[BamaPen]

It seems worthwhile to me to be able to understand just how difficult communication was in the past. I'm talking any time from just before cell phones on back. In the 1970s, doing business in Europe, I would phone the International Operator, give her the number in the USA that I wanted to call, then hang up and wait - maybe an hour - until she called back with my connection. Then it was $50 per minute to talk.

 

When I was a middle school student in the 1950s, it was popular to have a pen-pal in Europe. I wrote letters to a kid in The Hague, and he would respond promptly. One round took a month - two weeks each way by surface mail. Air mail would have been considerably quicker, but kids could not afford the cost. In the same era, my family would debate the necessity of making a long-distance phone call, even to my grandfather just 55 miles away.

 

When we study history, we not only need to understand what was accomplished, but what was required in order to make it happen. Our revolutionary era forefathers had to send someone they trusted, like John Adams or Ben Franklin, to France with full authority to negotiate on their behalf. Personal diplomacy was required, and the fate of nations depended on the individual "out there" with no way to get advice or counsel from back home.

 

Likewise, even within the American colonies, communication could take weeks, thus convocations of trusted people had to gather and remain in one location for significant periods of time, representing people who were depending on the integrity of the individuals they had sent

 

Just imagine how Jefferson must have struggled to gain consensus on his ideas. Even a letter, handwritten - no copy machines, not even carbon paper - sent by special messenger could not have moved at more than 20 miles per hour.

 

This lap desk stands as a reminder to me of how much was accomplished despite the absence of any of our modern communication capabilities.

[mark e]

that is beautiful, and looks quite practical and usable...want one

 

i remember those ways of communicating that you refer to in your first couple paragraphs of this last post

 

it's ironic to me, how much less we accomplish on a grand scale today--with all the accumulated knowledge of civilised man and instantaneous worldwide communications at our fingertips--than jefferson and his buddies managed