Eastlake Early American Primitive Late 1800's Antique Clerks Writers Drafting Desk W Drawer & Tilt Top

Description

Wow a charming early American primitive wooden writers drafting tilt top desk with drawer. In great condition especially for its … more Wow a charming early American primitive wooden writers drafting tilt top desk with drawer. In great condition especially for its age, super solid and such a sweet vintage piece in a nice honey finish.

Very Special Slant Tilt Top part drafting table with storage and part standard desk likely used as a Clerks, Captains, Secretary or Accountants Desk.

Lovely detail of turned spindle legs, pin and cove joints or ball joint or otherwise known as Knapp joint (see below)

Height - 30" at lowest point and 36" at highest point
Width - 23"
Length - 36"
Knee - 24"

Knapp joint: Knapp joints on the drawer. Thomas Knapp of Wisconsin in about 1867 (right after the Civil War) designed and perfected this type of joinery. Often referred to as ball and joint, it was much stronger than the old tongue and grove or dovetail joints. He also designed the machinery for making the joint and gave the plans to any furniture company that wanted them. These machines really helped speed up the making of drawers. Big problem though, people had been trained for years to look for the tongue and groove joint and so they did not buy the furniture with the Knapp joint easily. With in about 30 years this joint was no longer used. Really helps to date furniture as being made between 1870 and 1900, during the Eastlake period. (Cited from: https://www.antiquers.com/threads/knapp-joint-what-is-this-dresser.50196/) less