Relevant categories: Desks
( Above Photo: Victorian Davenport Desk Walnut Pop Up Mechanism 1860 )
So, you’re in the market for a genuine davenport? A davenport is a tiny writing desk for use by Victorian women. It has a cupboard and several drawers for keeping stationery of all kinds. Besides acting as a writing desk inside your home, a davenport can help improve your interior décor by acting as a centerpiece anywhere you place it.
A davenport can provide adequate storage space for your laptop, phone, books, and pens. So, if you’re looking for a davenport, keep going. You can never go wrong with this kind of Victorian furniture. But, do you know how to tell a genuine davenport from the fake ones? This article discusses the different ways to do that.
( Above Photo: Victorian Davenport Desk Walnut Inlay 1860 )
One of the best ways to distinguish a genuine davenport from the rest is to look at the materials from which it is made. During the Victorian period, Mahogany was the most common material for making furniture of all kinds. Mahogany was preferred over other types of wood because of its characteristic straight grains and distinctive red color.
However, rosewood and Zebrawood also became common once English merchants could import them from South America and the Caribbean. Thanks to its characteristic brown color, rosewood was easier to enhance with a little glossy polishing.
( Above Photo: Victorian Davenport Desk Pop Up Mechanism 1860 )
Genuine davenports have a sliding lid below a gallery at the top. It’s only possible to see the storage space once the sliding lid opens up. Some davenports may also have a spring-loaded top section with side drawers (both dummy and real drawers).
Besides the basic davenport design, some designers also included decorative inlaid patterns, rotating top sections, and pull-out fronts. Thus, the davenport morphed from a basic storage/writing desk to more decorative units.
( Above Photo: Victorian Davenport Desk Antique 1850 )
Davenports often had several types of decorations, including inlaid patterns, decorative brass fittings, leather tops, fretwork carvings, and wood turned knobs. Of course, the purpose of the leather tops was to enable smooth writing.
Original davenports were mostly rectangular. With time, they took to the shape of the piano with pedestal based and cabriole legs. Thus, davenports are as decorative as they are functional. Putting one in a room can improve the interior décor and turn it into a centerpiece.
4. Type of Davenport
There are different types of davenports. Knowing these types can help you choose a genuine one. Here are the davenport types you’ll likely find:
Piano-Top Davenports: These davenports have tops shaped like pianos. Their hinged lids hide several storage compartments and the retractable writing surface. They provide hidden storage.
Sliding-Top Davenports: Some davenports have sliding tops, which were mostly made from rosewood. Instead of curved tops, the davenports have rectangular tops. The top lid opens to reveal hidden storage underneath.
The Bottom Line
Now that you know how to tell a genuine davenport from a fake one, it should be easier for you to find the one you need. Head to an antique store and check out the furniture they have to offer. Pick one you really like and enjoy.
Victorian Davenport Desk Walnu...
Victorian Davenport Desk Pop U...
Victorian Davenport Desk Antiq...
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