© 2000, 2010, 2012, 2018, 2019 D. Beach, Whispering Woodworks LLC
Thomas Jefferson Lap Desk
I currently have one of these desks available for immediate sale.
Please e-mail or call for details or to place an order.
"On that desk was done a work greater than any battle, loftier than any poem, more enduring than any monument." Senator John Warfield Johnston of Virginia, 1880
Whispering Woodworks
David S. Beach
Fine Custom Furniture and Reproductions
Leesburg, VA
703-737-2126
These pieces are examples of the type of work I do.
Let me know what I can build for you.
This small lap desk was based on the desk that Thomas
Jefferson designed and used to draft the Declaration of
Independence at the birth of our nation.
History and Background
The most accurate information I could find about the history of the desk was based on a research project that was featured in the February 2001 issue of Smithsonian magazine. In 1776, Thomas Jefferson had traveled to Philadelphia to attend the Second Continental Congress - during his trip he arranged to stay with a local cabinetmaker named Benjamin Randolph. Jefferson had conceptualized a design for a small lap desk that could be taken anywhere, including his long coach trips from Virginia to Philadelphia. Randolph built the desk for Jefferson based on his plans using solid mahogany with inlays at both ends. Though small, the desk must have proved a very difficult project, with lots of fine, delicate, detail work. The desk, being small and portable, provided the perfect companion to Jefferson during his travels, allowing him the comfort of reading and writing wherever he roamed. Many of Jefferson’s letters, memos and papers were composed on the desk, and it was used for the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson carried the desk with him until the year he died - at which point it was passed on to his grandson-in-law, Joseph Coolidge. The original desk is on display in the Smithsonian - it looks worn and well used, but holds the scars of its hard life with great dignity. The desk that Benjamin Randolph built was constructed in such a way that the seasonal movement of the wood caused problems with some of the joints - and the writing boards had warped significantly over the years. I approached this project slightly differently than I would a normal reproduction. I choose to redesign the construction of the desk to minimize or eliminate the structural problems I observed in the original, while maintaining the look, function and charm. I imagined myself as Benjamin Randolph who had just been given a sketch of a writing box by Thomas Jefferson. The differences in my recreation are mainly the orientation of the grain in the main box and writing boards, the use of bread board ends on the free writing boards to minimize warping, and the adjustment of the interior partitions to allow a sheet of standard paper to fit. • Matched set of solid mahogany used for lap desk reproduction. • Interior writing surface lined with a baize writing cloth. • The drawer features miniature hand cut dovetail construction. • Drawer front has a maple banding. • The solid brass reproduction hardware and reproduction lock on the drawer. • The piece is finished with multiple coats of hand rubbed varnish, waxed and rubbed to a satin patina.Use and Function:
In its closed position, the desk is approximately the size
of a laptop computer (14.25" x 10" x 3.5"). It can be
easily carried under one arm.
The support stand under the lower
writing board can be unfolded and set
into one of the five notched positions to
provide a comfortable angled surface
for reading or writing.
The pencil ledge along the bottom of
the upper writing board can support a
book, papers, tablet or a Ipad .
The drawer is lockable and has some
incredible detail work, such as, the
miniature hand cut dovetail joints at the
corners, miniature drawer dividers,
maple inlay, and solid brass handles.
Close up detail of the hand cut
dovetails.
Finally, the writing boards can be unfolded to produce a
large writing surface covered with baize (a woven felt-
like fabric). This surface can be used in conjunction
with the support stand to produce a comfortable writing
position.
Each customer who purchases a Thomas Jefferson Lap Desk will receive a small booklet I put
together which features some additional information about the history and life of this
remarkable piece of furniture.
I currently have one of these desks available for immediate sale.
The price for each desk is $875 - plus $50 for insured shipping.
© 2000, 2010, 2012, 2018, 2019 D. Beach, Whispering Woodworks LLC
Thomas Jefferson Lap Desk
I currently have one of these desks
available for immediate sale.
Please e-mail or call for details or
to place an order.
"On that desk was done a work greater than any battle, loftier than any poem, more enduring than any monument." Senator John Warfield Johnston of Virginia, 1880
Whispering Woodworks
David S. Beach
Fine Custom Furniture and Reproductions
Leesburg, VA
703-737-2126
These pieces are examples of the type of work I do.
Let me know what I can build for you.
This small lap desk was based on the desk that
Thomas Jefferson designed and used to draft the
Declaration of Independence at the birth of our
nation.
History and Background
The most accurate information I could find about the history of the desk was based on a research project that was featured in the February 2001 issue of Smithsonian magazine. In 1776, Thomas Jefferson had traveled to Philadelphia to attend the Second Continental Congress - during his trip he arranged to stay with a local cabinetmaker named Benjamin Randolph. Jefferson had conceptualized a design for a small lap desk that could be taken anywhere, including his long coach trips from Virginia to Philadelphia. Randolph built the desk for Jefferson based on his plans using solid mahogany with inlays at both ends. Though small, the desk must have proved a very difficult project, with lots of fine, delicate, detail work. The desk, being small and portable, provided the perfect companion to Jefferson during his travels, allowing him the comfort of reading and writing wherever he roamed. Many of Jefferson’s letters, memos and papers were composed on the desk, and it was used for the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson carried the desk with him until the year he died - at which point it was passed on to his grandson-in-law, Joseph Coolidge. The original desk is on display in the Smithsonian - it looks worn and well used, but holds the scars of its hard life with great dignity. The desk that Benjamin Randolph built was constructed in such a way that the seasonal movement of the wood caused problems with some of the joints - and the writing boards had warped significantly over the years. I approached this project slightly differently than I would a normal reproduction. I choose to redesign the construction of the desk to minimize or eliminate the structural problems I observed in the original, while maintaining the look, function and charm. I imagined myself as Benjamin Randolph who had just been given a sketch of a writing box by Thomas Jefferson. The differences in my recreation are mainly the orientation of the grain in the main box and writing boards, the use of bread board ends on the free writing boards to minimize warping, and the adjustment of the interior partitions to allow a sheet of standard paper to fit. • Matched set of solid mahogany used for lap desk reproduction. • Interior writing surface lined with a baize writing cloth. • The drawer features miniature hand cut dovetail construction. • Drawer front has a maple banding. • The solid brass reproduction hardware and reproduction lock on the drawer. • The piece is finished with multiple coats of hand rubbed varnish, waxed and rubbed to a satin patina.Use and Function:
In its closed position, the desk is
approximately (14.25" x 10" x 3.5"). It
can be easily carried under one arm.
The support stand under the lower
writing board can be unfolded and set
into one of the five notched positions to
provide a comfortable angled surface
for reading or writing.
The pencil ledge along the bottom of
the upper writing board can support a
book, papers, tablet or a Ipad .
The drawer is lockable and has some
incredible detail work, such as, the
miniature hand cut dovetail joints at the
corners, miniature drawer dividers,
maple inlay, and solid brass handles.
Close up detail of the hand cut
dovetails.
Finally, the writing boards can be unfolded to
produce a large writing surface covered with
baize (a woven felt-like fabric). This surface can
be used in conjunction with the support stand to
produce a comfortable writing position.
