14. Furniture

14.38  LAP DESK.  Absolutely extraordinary, early 1800’s nobleman’s portable traveling desk of the most superb quality!  This magnificent creation is made of solid rosewood with meticulously-inlaid brasswork that defies the imagination!  The writing box is fully brass bound on all sides with recurring “tree and fiddle” motifs decorating the top and front.  These surfaces  also bear elaborate inlaid brass escutcheons.  Opening the stout hinged upper section reveals the interior with the most exquisite presentation.  The leather writing slope is bordered with tooled gold in an ornate floral pattern.  Complimenting the tooling, inlaid brass strips and brass “wagon wheels” are inlaid into the wooden surround.  A sunburst key escutcheon covers the functional skeleton key lock which secures entry to the lower trays.  The original silk ribbon pulls provide access.  Opening the lower writing slope reveals three trays separated by two slats.  At first look (to a potential thief) the slats appear permanently affixed.  But in fact they are spring-loaded, and removing them allows another spring-loaded cover to be released, revealing three “secret” drawers within.  Incredibly, each of the small drawers (5 inches wide, 2 inches deep and ¾ inches thick) is inlaid with brass stringing on their rich rosewood fronts with turned ebony drawer pulls!  On the side of this desk is another large drawer with inset brass handle which serves to open the drawer as well as to lift the chest by means of a matching handle on the opposite end.  Cleverly, this drawer is locked into position by a spring-loaded pin which is held in position when the upper lid of the box is closed.  Attesting to its early age, this remarkable traveling set is equipped with two gilt brass candle holders which fit into inlaid brass receptacles on the front edge.  The upper lid is also lined with elastic red velvet lines to hold papers and envelopes.  The front tray is remarkable in that it contains an inkwell, sand shaker, two lidded compartments and a pencil tray inlaid with ivory.  The brass inkwell has a button-operated cap and the sand shaker appears to be of unmarked silver.  In the interest of brevity, there are even more features we have chosen not to describe here. This most impressive presentation was undoubtedly commissioned of a very wealthy English nobleman, circa 1830.  Now, beautifully preserved, it is a rare relic from the very upper class of the pre-Victorian era.  18 inches wide by 11 ¾ inches across and 8 inches high.  The original green cloth covering still adorns the bottom.   The condition of this marvelous piece must be rated as excellent in all respects.  To be sure there are signs of wear and use.  This chest/writing desk is totally complete noting the bases of the candle sticks are no longer present.  Otherwise it rates as one of the nicest ever made!  WAS $5,500  NOW! 3900

14.46 CHINA TRADE LAP DESK.  Impressive mid-19th century or earlier traveler’s roll top desk of early Chinese export manufacture.  This extra large example of such a desk is constructed entirely of rich hand-fashioned camphorwood.  The professional workmanship exhibited in its construction is nothing short of remarkable!  All joints are dove-tailed.  The brass fittings are tight and snug within their wood surrounds.  Pulling on the brass handle inset in the front not only opens the bottom drawer but pulls back the upper roll top desk.  It reveals a tray of 5 compartments when lifted, locks into an elevated position held by ingenious spring-loaded wooden slats on each side.  It contains 6 pigeon holes and a central locking cupboard.  Lifting the slant front opens the sloped writing surface with its original green felt covering.  It is outlined in solid ebony wood trim.  At the top are 4 more compartments, a long pencil tray and a semi-secret concaved tray for holding pens.  Pressing one end of the tray opens the space under it.  A small leather pull at the top of the slope opens yet another compartment which hides a panel covering secret compartments. Using a thin needle inserted into a tiny hole in the far right compartment, a spring-loaded trigger releases the panel to uncover 3 small drawers with leather pulls. Each drawer is beautifully hand-dovetailed. The front and sides of this desk are constructed of rich, aromatic camphor wood bearing fine decorative string inlays of ebony wood.  The top front bears a large inlaid brass cartouche and the sides have inset flush folding brass handles. The exposed corners of this desk are covered in decorative/protective thick brass edging on all sides.  21 inches wide by 11 inches high and 17 inches deep when closed.  Excellent original condition in all respects, considering this is a working piece of traveling furniture over 160 years old!  1895 

Literature:  Carl Crossman, “The Decorative Arts of the China Trade,” 1991, The Antique Collectors Club, Suffolk, England.  Page 248, Colour Plate 96.  Roll-top desk, Asian hardwoods with brass hardware.  Circa 1830.  24 3/8 x 20 ¼ x 6 ¼.  

14.45  DECORATED SEA CHEST.   This is an item which is the most highly sought after by collectors in today's nautical antique market.  Here is a mid-19th century seaman's chest with outstanding sailor folk art decoration.  This handsome sea chest is constructed in the classic way with canted (sloped) sides exhibiting hand dove-tailed joints.  It has just about all of the bells and whistles collectors are looking for.  It is canted and complete with its original kick boards and runners.  The sailor-macraméd beckets are of the first order, being done with canvas and leather in a marlinspike seamanship way with fancy Turk's head knots.  The deeply carved wooden cleats are faced with precise cross hatching.  The chest is complete with its functional skeleton lock and key.  It has not just one but two lidded tills, one of which has a lock itself.  The piece-de-resistance is the sailor folk art painting in the lid.  It depicts the mariner's magnificent full-rigged clipper ship under sail, flanked by flags.  The one on the left is the national merchant flag of Norway, with the Union Mark of Sweden-Norway, the "herring salad."  This was the national merchant flag of Norway form 1844 to 1899.  Known as a "5-board chest," this type of trunk has a lid and all four sides made of single planks!  The hinged lid measures 15 by 38 ¾ inches.  The base with runners and kick boards is 17 ½ by 38 ¾ inches.  The carved, embellished cleats are 2 ½ inches wide by 8 ½ inches tall.  The classic macramé beckets measure 6 inches wide by 8 ½ inches long.  Outstanding original condition.  The chest is very sound and tight.  The lid closes and locks properly.  The beckets are extremely sturdy.  The chest does show its age with expected dings, scratches and age cracks typical of such a working shipboard piece.  Overall a first class example which is very scarce to find!  2200 

14.43 TRAVELER’s DESK. Exquisite mid-19^th century Anglo-Indian lap desk made entirely of solid ebony with secondary camphor wood (bottom and drawer sides) and stout brass furniture (hinges, hooks, lock and corners). When opened the interior reveals a startlingly beautiful array of inlaid ivory discs, so numerous as to defy numbering! The discs line the entire periphery of the two-part folding writing slope covered in rich black leather. Each part of the slope hinges open to compartments within. The slope in the lid is held in place by a comma-shaped brass lever. The upper slope opens to an inlaid ivory cover which slides up and out revealing three hidden drawers with silk pulls. The drawers exhibit the finest craftsmanship with incised ebony facings and dovetailed construction. Each drawer measures 4 7/8 inches wide, 3 inches deep and 1 inch thick. The upper compartment of the desk has a wave-like ebony panel with inlaid ivory discs arranged in an artful sinuous array. Behind it are three shallow trays. Above these are four compartments, two of which hold covers for an inkwell and sand shaker. The largest compartment, in the middle, holds a concave pencil tray which flips up when pressed on the right end exposing yet another secret compartment! Covering all of this is a meticulously-inlaid hinged ebony lid with lock. When closed, two small brass hooks secure it in place allowing the lock to engage the front slope, securing the entire desk. Perhaps the most stunning aspect of this offering is its incredible fluted exterior carved with precise recurring striations. 16 ½ inches wide by 9 ½ inches deep and 5 ¼ inches thick. The writing slope measures 16 ½ by 11 ½ inches. Condition is nothing short of spectacular. All functions operate properly and there is no damage whatsoever. Complete with original functional skeleton key. Brilliant! Well over 150 years old! SOLD

14.41  WALL MIRROR.  Authentic 1800’s  decorative mirror with a distinctively nautical motif.  This handsome parlor mirror is carved and turned of rich, tight grain mahogany.  It features a period chromolithograph of a massive 4-masted full rigged ship under sail in a blue sea with white caps.  The detail of the ship is clear and crisp and is protected under its original old wavy glass.  Below the decorative inset is the mirror, free of occlusions, framed by the two tall columns carved in a rope twist fashion and crowned by bulbous caps.  On the top is a scalloped plinth adorned with 11 hanging “tear drop” ornaments, each of which was obviously hand-made, owing to slight differences in their size and shape.  The overall size is 25 ¼ inches high by 15 inches wide.   The mirror is 8 ¾ by 11 /2 inches and the lithograph is 8 ¾ inches wide by 6 ½ inches high.  There is a standard picture hanging bracket on the top back.  Perfect original condition throughout.  A very handsome as well as functional wall hanger.  499

14.35 BATTLESHIP FURNITURE. A really amazing furniture find. Our best in 35 years! Genuine officer’s stateroom chest of drawers as outfitted on the famous early American dreadnaught, battleship U.S.S. SOUTH CAROLINA (BB-26). This rare surviving example of authentic ship’s furniture is made of solid quarter sawn oak with poplar, pine and cedar secondary woods. The construction was expertly hand-made with hidden dove-tail joints, chamfered edges and solid brass fittings throughout including all 4 matching lever locks with 2 working skeleton keys. The lovely side panels are inset in the traditional manner. This classic “stacking” campaign chest is in two parts centered on two dowels between. The upper stack houses a large single cupboard with one removable shelf. The left door locks in place with a heavy brass cane bolt. The right door closes with a positive button latch and can be locked closed with the key. On the back, construction is of vertical tongue and grove cedar. The upper right hand corner is marked “9501 Fitted Aug 4th /01”. In orange grease pencil, “#2 L S. Carolina.” Then in black paint, “U.S.S. So. Carolina Ward Officers Stateroom “L”. The bottom section is also painted, “U.S.S. So. Carolina K.K. Ward Officers Stateroom “B.” There are holes in all 4 back corners where this furniture was originally secured to the ship’s bulkhead. All drawers move freely and lock closed properly. The two cabinet doors open and close smoothly with a positive fit. This handsome chest of drawers measures 51 ¾ inches high by 21 inches deep overall and is 42 inches wide. Overall condition is excellent and very sturdy. As expected this piece of genuine U.S. Navy shipboard furniture 110 years old has undergone some minor modifications as evidenced by plugged screw holes here and there. Importantly there are no cracks, splits, chips, warpage or dents. A genuine, very rare surviving relic of functional and identified shipboard furniture from America’s first dreadnought! SOLD

The battleship SOUTH CAROLINA (BB-26) was laid down on December 18, 1906 at the William Cramp & Sons Shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was launched July 11, 1908 and commissioned on March 1st 1910. The ship had a length of 453 feet, a beam of 80 feet and a draft of 24 ½ feet, with a displacement of 16,000 tons.

Impressively armored and gunned, the ship carried 8-12 inch guns and 22-3 inch guns, with 8 -10 inches of armor in crucial areas. Her compliment was 751 officers and men.

The SOUTH CAROLINA was the first of her class -- the first American dreadnought -- all-big gun battleship. Soon after her commissioning the battleship made voyages to Europe in late 1910 and in 1911. During 1913-14, SOUTH CAROLINA was intimately involved in the U.S interventions in Haiti and Mexico.

During the First World War SOUTH CAROLINA deployed in the Western Hemisphere. In September 1918 she escorted a troop convoy across the submarine-infested Atlantic. Following the end of World War I, she served as a troop ship, bringing over 4,000 servicemen in four voyages from France to the United States in the period February-July 1919.

In June-August 1920, SOUTH CAROLINA carried Naval Academy midshipmen on a training cruise to the Pacific, visiting ports on the U.S. west coast and Hawaii before returning to the east coast by way of the Panama Canal. She made another midshipmen's training cruise to European waters in mid-1921. USS SOUTH CAROLINA was decommissioned at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in December 1921. She was stricken from the Navy list in November 1923 and was scrapped in accordance with the Washington naval limitations treaty.

Interestingly this chest-of-drawers found its way West and was used for a number of years in the lobby of the famous, historic old Smith River Hotel. Smith River is the most northerly town on the California coast.