Collections: Decorative Arts: Desk

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Desk

• Maker: Wendell Castle, American, born 1932
• Medium: Maple, zebrawood, walnut
• Place Manufactured: Scottsville, New York, USA
• Dates: 1977
• Dimensions: 29 x 64 x 40 in. (73.7 x 162.6 x 101.6 cm)
• Markings: Carved into wood on underside, near left leg: "W.C.77"
• Signature: no signature
• Inscriptions: no inscriptions
• Collections: Decorative Arts
• Museum Location: This item is on view in Luce Visible Storage and Study Center, 5th floor
• Accession Number: 82.113
• Credit Line: This acquisition was made possible through the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation.
• Image: Overall, 82.113_bw.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
Wendell Castle (American, born 1932). Desk, 1977. Maple, zebrawood, walnut, 29 x 64 x 40 in. (73.7 x 162.6 x 101.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, 82.113 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 82.113_bw.jpg)
• Catalogue Description: Organic, triangular-shaped, three-legged maple desk with zebrawood and walnut inlay. Top in shape of elongated triangle with curving sides; about 3" in from the edges is thin border of walnut (?) inlay, filled in with veneer of eight triangular panels of striped wood radiating from front right corner and forming a sort of herring-bone pattern. Each corner projects out into a rounded knob that is joined with mortise and tenon joints to three legs. Each leg is carved in the form of a tapering, stylized deer leg that breaks outward toward the bottom like the foot. Underside of top also has a thin border of walnut inlay and a central panel of striped wood inlay. Drawer with rounded handle along bottom edge inset flush with curving front edge, just right of center. At front of drawer interior is a narrow, shallow compartment for pencils; drawer bottom is lined with matching striped wood. CONDITION: Excellent except for a few shiny spots on finish of top.