Inlaid Writing Desk
Title
Inlaid Writing Desk
Date
1903
Maker
The United Crafts
The Craftsman Workshops
Notes
Although the drawings are inconclusive, these may be the earliest Arts and Crafts inlaid pieces that were designed by The United Crafts. Evident on the doors surrounding the drop front, the long rectangular motifs appear to be essentially geometric in nature. The same pattern is evident on the footboard and headboard of the bed. It is tempting to read these as recessed spaces (and some have), but the consistency with which the black rectangle appears at the top and bottom of the shape, and the fidelity with which the white dot in the center was included, makes this interpretation difficult to sustain. It should be mentioned that these drawings–which the article described as “planned in cooperation by Messrs. E. G. W. Dietrich and Gustav Stickley”–predate the arrival of Harvey Ellis who has been long associated with the development of the inlaid furniture of 1903-04.
The color scheme of this interior gives a different impression of Stickley’s work and demonstrate that his move towards the lightening of form and finishes occurred prior to the arrival of Ellis in mid 1903. The furniture of the second floor is maple, “Stained gray-green and lacquered: the last process giving a smooth satiny effect very agreeable to the eye.” The same treatment was used on the floors, while the woodwork was painted ivory white. A 4-inch maple board stained green was used to complete the transition from the baseboard to the floor.
Documented In
“The Craftsman House,” The Craftsman 4 (May 1903): 92.