Antique Paneled Walnut Rotary Library Desk by Wooton, Indianapolis, Circa 1890

View Similar Items

19th Century American Walnut "Wells Fargo" Desk by Wooton Desk. Co

Rare Antique circa 1860 Library Writing Table Desk with Twin Writing Slopes

Antique Walnut and Marquetry Writing Desk

19th Century Italian Charles X Walnut Antique Desk

Art Deco / Neoclassical Revival Walnut Desk, France, circa 1940

Desk Arts and Crafts , 1890, England

Vintage Walnut Twin Pedestal Partner Desk Tan Brown Leather Top Panelled Back

Lovely Victorian circa 1880 English Panelled Hardwood Twin Pedestal Partner Desk

Studio Walnut Desk by Phillip Lloyd Powell

19th Century Italian Carved Walnut Antique Writing Desk

18th Century Italian Louis XVI Walnut Antique Desk

George I Walnut Kneehole Desk

About the Item

An antique rotary desk by Wooton offers walnut paneled construction with leather top over case having upper drawers and rotary sides opening to catalogue and file compartments, identifying label as photographed, c1890 Measures- 31''H x 60''W x 32.5''D Historical Note: An Indianapolis, Indiana, entrepreneur (who was later to become a Protestant preacher) called William S. Wooton obtained patents for his design and established a company in 1870. Production continued until about 1884. The Wooton desk is their better-known secretary desk; the Wooton desk company also produced a so-called rotary desk, which is in fact a pedestal desk whose pedestals have segments which turn on themselves to expose more drawers and nooks. The Wooton desk was introduced at the end of the 19th century, at a time when office work was changing in a drastic fashion with an increase in paperwork that led to the introduction of filing cabinets, among other things. The white-collar worker invaded the office in huge numbers. The new reservoir-based fountain pen and the typewriter were used to produce greater quantities of office documents than ever before. In this context desks which required users to fold and title each letter or document and place it in a pigeon hole, or small nook, were simply not efficient. It was faster to place an unfolded piece of paper in a folder and place the folder in a file cabinet or file drawer. Wooton desks were probably not the costliest desks in series production, but they were possibly the ones with the most drawers, nooks and crannies imaginable. Only a few examples of the cupboard desk had more divisions, but they were of a very utilitarian different style, and were often produced by the very families or communities which used them, such as the Shakers. The armoire desk is the closest modern relative to the Wooton desk in its size and form. But the armoire desk is even bigger and larger than the Wooton, and despite the use of rich veneers by some makers, it is a much more practical piece of furniture. The Wooton secretary desk usually rests on a four-legged quadruped support equipped with casters. The main body of the desk is filled with a dozen or several dozens (depending on the model) of small drawers and nooks for papers and small objects. As in a "secrétaire à abattant" or in a fall front desk, the main working surface or desktop is hinged and lifted completely from the horizontal to the vertical in order to lock up the desk, forcing the user to gather up and store all papers and implements beforehand. Unlike the secrétaire à abattant however, the Wooton desktop hides only a few of the small drawers and nooks. The real lockup is done by closing two massive hinged panels which are themselves as deep as the desk and are like it filled with small drawers and nooks of all sizes.[1] (Wikipedia) Wooton desks in good condition are sometimes sold in auctions for the same price as a top-of-the-line luxury automobile.

Creator:
Wooton Desk Co. (Maker)
Dimensions:
Height: 31 in (78.74 cm)Width: 60 in (152.4 cm)Depth: 32.5 in (82.55 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Walnut
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
Late 19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1890
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Overall very good condition, tight, sturdy and operating properly with some leather lifting as photographed.
Seller Location:
Big Flats, NY
Reference Number:
Seller: 739601stDibs: LU2396329342802

More From This Seller

View All

Antique Derby School Paneled Oak Roll Top Desk with Full Interior, C1900

By Derby Desk Company

Located in Big Flats, NY

An antique roll top desk offers paneled quarter sawn oak construction with s-top opening to full interior over base with flanking drawer towers h...

Category

Early 20th Century American Desks

Materials

Oak

Antique Derby School Paneled Oak Roll Top Desk with Full Interior, C1900

$4,400 Sale Price

20% Off

Antique Victorian Eastlake Walnut & Burl Cylinder Secretary Desk c1890

Located in Big Flats, NY

***Reduced In-House Delivery Rates - Click on “Ask Seller” to Request a Quote*** Antique Victorian Eastlake Walnut & Burl Cylinder Secretary Desk c1890. 84 1/4" x 38 5/8" x 21 1/...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Desks

Materials

Walnut, Burl

Antique Victorian Eastlake Walnut & Burl Cylinder Secretary Desk c1890

$2,760 Sale Price

20% Off

Antique Victorian Renaissance Revival Carved Walnut Trestle Form Desk C1890

Located in Big Flats, NY

***Reduced Delivery Rates - See Below or Click “Ask The Seller” to Request a Quote*** Antique Victorian Renaissance Revival Carved Walnut Trestle Form Desk with Shaped Top Over BAse...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Renaissance Revival Desks

Materials

Walnut

Antique Victorian Renaissance Revival Carved Walnut Trestle Form Desk C1890

$1,160 Sale Price

20% Off

Antique Eastlake Incised Walnut and Burl Slant Front Secretary, circa 1890

Located in Big Flats, NY

An antique Eastlake secretary offers paneled walnut construction with upper having shaped crest surmounting shelf and slant front opening to writing...

Category

Antique 19th Century American Eastlake Desks

Materials

Burl, Walnut

Antique Eastlake Incised Walnut and Burl Slant Front Secretary, circa 1890

$1,800 Sale Price

20% Off

Antique Berkey & Gay Victorian Inlaid Black Walnut & Gilt Drop Front Desk c1890

Located in Big Flats, NY

***Reduced In-House Delivery Rates - Click on “Ask Seller” to Request a Quote*** Antique Berkey & Gay Victorian Inlaid Black Walnut & Gilt Drop Front Desk c1890. Measures - 43.75...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Antique Berkey & Gay Victorian Inlaid Black Walnut & Gilt Drop Front Desk c1890

$960 Sale Price

20% Off

Antique Derby School Oak Paneled Roll Top Desk C1900

Located in Big Flats, NY

***Reduced In-House Delivery Rates - Click on “Ask Seller” to Request a Quote*** Antique Derby School Oak Paneled Roll Top Desk C1900. Measures - 49 1/2" x 50" x 32". This antique...

Category

Early 20th Century Desks

Materials

Oak

Antique Derby School Oak Paneled Roll Top Desk C1900

$2,360 Sale Price

20% Off

Antique 19th Century American High Victorian Desks

Materials

Walnut

19th Century American Walnut "Wells Fargo" Desk by Wooton Desk. Co

$24,783

Rare Antique circa 1860 Library Writing Table Desk with Twin Writing Slopes

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

We are delighted to offer for sale this very rare original circa 1860 Mahogany library table with built in twin writing slopes This is a very r...

Category

Antique 1860s English High Victorian Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Hardwood

Rare Antique circa 1860 Library Writing Table Desk with Twin Writing Slopes

$2,843 Sale Price

30% Off

Antique Walnut and Marquetry Writing Desk

Located in London, GB

This elegant writing desk was created in France in the late 18th century, during the reign of King Louis XVI (1774-1792). The desk is designed in a refined neoclassical style which w...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Desks

Materials

Brass

Antique Walnut and Marquetry Writing Desk

$10,464 Sale Price

20% Off

19th Century Italian Charles X Walnut Antique Desk

Located in Casale Monferrato, IT

We present this elegant antique Italian desk dating back to the first half of the 19th century, during the Charles X era. This exquisite desk, whose features suggest it was crafted i...

Category

Antique 1820s Italian Charles X Desks

Materials

Walnut

19th Century Italian Charles X Walnut Antique Desk

$4,901

Art Deco / Neoclassical Revival Walnut Desk, France, circa 1940

By Jean Pascaud

Located in VÉZELAY, FR

Elegant desk / writing table / secretaire in walnut, divided into 2 parts: - office part with 5 drawers including 1 with lock Dimensions : height 75 cm, width 111 cm, depth 65 cm ...

Category

Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Desks

Materials

Bronze

Art Deco / Neoclassical Revival Walnut Desk, France, circa 1940

$4,758 Sale Price

20% Off

Desk Arts and Crafts , 1890, England

Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C

The set includes, armchair, desk and desk accessories. It is from the first era. Bibliography: Revue de l’Art N°185 – March 2014, p. 23. Founded in 1857 by Gustave Keller, the Keller...

Category