show us pics of your desk

[Ceramicist]

This is not my desk but one I photographed today. I work with the curators of the Vanderbilt and Roosevelt properties here in Hyde Park photographing the collections for cataloguing purposes. This belonged to Frederick and Louise Vanderbilt and can probably be attributed to the 19th century cabinetmaker Paul Sormani.

 

 

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee513/betweenthelens/20140129a-0121_zps047c07db.jpg

 

The parquetry (geometric shapes) and marquetry (figural) are outstanding as are the embellishments.

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee513/betweenthelens/Desk3_zpsb004fdd9.jpg

 

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee513/betweenthelens/Desk2_zpsb24b2963.jpg

 

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee513/betweenthelens/Desk4_zps86ae8e97.jpg

[mwpannell]

Wow, amazing desk but that marquetry is gorgeous. Does the clock work? Work well? Nice, nice photos, too. I hope you love your job.

[Ceramicist]

Wow, amazing desk but that marquetry is gorgeous. Does the clock work? Work well? Nice, nice photos, too. I hope you love your job.

Thanks so much. I'm pretty sure the clock works but, to my knowledge, the curatorial staff doesn't keep any of the clocks in the mansion running. I do love, love, love my job. If I'm behind a camera, I'm happy. I'll tell you one thing. The desk is HEAVY! The four people moving it had a pretty difficult time and they're going to hate us today when it needs to be turned and then moved off of the paper.

[fountainpagan]

Just for information: Sormani's first adresse in Paris is now an art galery.

After his death the brand Veuve Sormani & Fils (Sormani's widow and son) appeared and moved from the first adress. Their ancient atelier is now occupied by french furniture designer.

[Tdot]

From the living room you can see what were the two original doors to the two bedrooms. I would like to wall off the left-hand door and create built-in bookshelves for the living room. The section around the door would be floor to ceiling. The portions located where the existing shelves are would be approximately the height of what is already there. The right-hand door would open into a tiny office/library and a further pocket door would open into the bedroom. I see myself leaving the pocket door open most of the time so I can get eastern sunlight in the morning to help me wake up.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7148/6784319177_f223f62aaf_z.jpg

 

 

That wall is begging for a full width bookcase with hidden doors. Maybe a built-in desk where the current shelf unit stands.

[Ceramicist]

Just for information: Sormani's first adresse in Paris is now an art galery.

After his death the brand Veuve Sormani & Fils (Sormani's widow and son) appeared and moved from the first adress. Their ancient atelier is now occupied by french furniture designer.

Thank you for that info. We shot a Sormani étagère today, another heavy sucker! Between that, the desk, two cabinets with marble tops (that had to be moved separately) and four chairs, I'm done for the day save for making dinner. A Sormani desk similar to the one I photographed sold in October of last year at Sotheby's for $37,500.

[amberleadavis]

Thank you for that info. We shot a Sormani étagère today, another heavy sucker! Between that, the desk, two cabinets with marble tops (that had to be moved separately) and four chairs, I'm done for the day save for making dinner. A Sormani desk similar to the one I photographed sold in October of last year at Sotheby's for $37,500.

 

wow

[Ceramicist]

Here's a nicer edited shot. I use the color checker in the first photo I take for the day.

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee513/betweenthelens/EditedDesk_zpsb1348964.jpg

[mwpannell]

I actually love the juxtapostion in that shot of the antique and the digital-age color checker. I'd rather have that pairing on my wall than just a pic of the desk.

[harrygr]

This is a picture of my desk at home. The wooden box is used for straight razors!

 

http://i971.photobucket.com/albums/ae195/hsaounat/DSC_6974_zpsd710966f.jpg

[Skyppere]

Long ago, I posted my "desk". It was really a TV tray in a living room. Since then, I've purchased a lap desk. However, I wanted to let those who advised me know that I took some advice. I reversed the couch and love seat and I put an extender on the heat vent. I couldn't get the two pieces of furniture to touch because of the structure of the room and the nature of the furniture. However, I've given up on putting in a desk. The lap desk is great!

 

I have an enormous bedroom. This may be hard to believe in a one-bedroom 675 square foot house. But, the house had two tiny bedrooms and the previous owner took out the wall between them. I'm now considering using the closet and a sort of dresser as a divider to create a generous bedroom and a small office area. It won't be grandiose, but I hope to fill it with bookshelves, a small desk, and a window seat. I have to admit that this thread gave me ideas for the office.

 

The house is small, and I can't get around that. Luckily, I prefer small and cozy. I detest the previous owner's closet solution (open shelves in a corner of the enormous bedroom). I hope to create something smaller and more modest and closed off roughly where the old wall was. It will eat into the space that was one of the two old bedrooms. But, I'm ok with that. Keep the word "small" in mind.

 

This is roughly the space, though the picture does not show the window. The line in the ceiling is where I would start the closet, etc.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7024/6784310431_2d61fa604e_z.jpg

 

This shows the bedroom side.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7022/6784309135_ea067e3a4c_z.jpg

 

From the living room you can see what were the two original doors to the two bedrooms. I would like to wall off the left-hand door and create built-in bookshelves for the living room. The section around the door would be floor to ceiling. The portions located where the existing shelves are would be approximately the height of what is already there. The right-hand door would open into a tiny office/library and a further pocket door would open into the bedroom. I see myself leaving the pocket door open most of the time so I can get eastern sunlight in the morning to help me wake up.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7148/6784319177_f223f62aaf_z.jpg

 

This last picture shows the outside. The left-hand window is into the living room. The right-hand window would be the one with the window seat. Yes, it's a small house, but I've truly fallen in love with it.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7143/6784321401_dbe686fd0f_z.jpg

 

 

By the way, I am well aware that the house needs trim. That is one of many projects the previous owner left incomplete. This summer I plan to replace the front door and back door, and I plan to install trim along with that project. I have also done a lot of landscaping work on the outside since I took this picture (about a week after I moved in). The house is small, and the floorplan isn't perfect, but it really does have a lot of potential. Of all the places I've lived, I place this one in the top 2.

 

I may have to post my school desk just so you all can see that I can create a workspace. Fun fact: the room was designed without any place for the teacher! I successfully created a place out of furniture salvaged from a district that closed 8 years ago. I'll have to try to photograph my creation.

 

This is great! There's a whole industry in small houses these days, designs, solutions, all sorts of things. This will be a fascinating project. Keep us posted on your progress. Is it insulated? I mean North Dakota!

skyppere

[Shangas]

This is a picture of my desk at home. The wooden box is used for straight razors!

 

http://i971.photobucket.com/albums/ae195/hsaounat/DSC_6974_zpsd710966f.jpg

 

That lamp is sexy.

 

I demand to see the contents of your razor-case!!

[Ceramicist]

I actually love the juxtapostion in that shot of the antique and the digital-age color checker. I'd rather have that pairing on my wall than just a pic of the desk.

[Dr_P]

Here's a nicer edited shot. I use the color checker in the first photo I take for the day.

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee513/betweenthelens/EditedDesk_zpsb1348964.jpg

 

Thank you for posting the photos. It's really a gorgeous desk.

 

I also do some photography (just an advanced amateur of B&W fine art photography) so I can imagine that you must have a fun time photographing those beautiful pieces of furniture.

 

Claudio

[Ceramicist]

 

Thank you for posting the photos. It's really a gorgeous desk.

 

I also do some photography (just an advanced amateur of B&W fine art photography) so I can imagine that you must have a fun time photographing those beautiful pieces of furniture.

 

Claudio

Thank you, Claudio. Glad you've enjoyed.

[raging.dragon]

Thanks so much. I'm pretty sure the clock works but, to my knowledge, the curatorial staff doesn't keep any of the clocks in the mansion running. I do love, love, love my job. If I'm behind a camera, I'm happy. I'll tell you one thing. The desk is HEAVY! The four people moving it had a pretty difficult time and they're going to hate us today when it needs to be turned and then moved off of the paper.

 

That's a beautiful desk. Do you know what type of wood it's made from (under the parquetry, marquetry, and veneer (if any))?

[harrygr]

That lamp is sexy.

 

I demand to see the contents of your razor-case!!

 

Since it was a demand, here is a pic. The pen is my grandfather's Parket Duofold Slimfold.

 

http://i971.photobucket.com/albums/ae195/hsaounat/DSC_6980_zps2e112a48.jpg

 

The razors are fully functional and I am using them in almost daily basis. I have hundreds of pictures with my shave set up of the day, but I won't post pictures since it will be off topic!

[Shangas]

Absolutely beautiful. Did you make the box yourself? Or was it bought and repurposed for razor-storage?

[kingcobradude]

Since it was a demand, here is a pic. The pen is my grandfather's Parket Duofold Slimfold.

 

http://i971.photobucket.com/albums/ae195/hsaounat/DSC_6980_zps2e112a48.jpg

 

The razors are fully functional and I am using them in almost daily basis. I have hundreds of pictures with my shave set up of the day, but I won't post pictures since it will be off topic!

Nice. I have always wanted to shave with a straight razor

[Ceramicist]

 

That's a beautiful desk. Do you know what type of wood it's made from (under the parquetry, marquetry, and veneer (if any))?

We know kingwood was probably used for the parquetry with a fruitwood used for the floral design but have no knowledge of other woods used in its construction. One could perhaps deduce, from other Sormani pieces, what was probably used but I am not skilled in this area as I'm not a curator, only the photographer.