What is a davenport desk?

A davenport is a small, compact nineteenth-century writing desk featuring a sloping top and side drawers. They were originally designed for ladies to use in boudoirs or drawing rooms for personal correspondence.

How were davenports used?

The sloping top opens to reveal a fitted interior with small drawers and pigeonholes for stationery. Side drawers store writing materials and papers while keeping the footprint of the desk remarkably small.

Are all davenports Victorian?

The examples seen here predominantly date from the Victorian era, spanning the mid to late nineteenth century. Periods represented on this page include the 1850s, 1860s, and 1870s.

What materials are used?

Walnut is the predominant timber, frequently enhanced with burr walnut veneers and marquetry inlay. Other materials recorded include rosewood, ebony, ambboyna, leather writing surfaces, and brass hardware.

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Victorian Ladies Davenport

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These compact Victorian ladies davenport desks offer ingenious writing surfaces and concealed storage, making them a practical choice for small studies.