United States House of Representatives Carved Oak Desk, designed by Capitol architect Thomas Ustick Walter and crafted for the 1857 House of Representative remodeling project, the slant lid with an inset leather top, fronting a lift-top quill and inkwell compartment, with a gallery centered by a carved shield adorned with a field of three stars over vertical stripes, on a trestle base with scroll brackets and scroll legs, the supports with a cartouche with a carved star framed by beading, joined by a central shelf, the backboard elaborately ornamented with a pair of similar star-carved cartouches flanking a lattice- and roundel-carved panel, h. 36", w. 29-5/8", d. 20-1/4". The present desk was designed by Thomas Ustick Walter for the 1857 renovation of the House Chamber. Due to the size of the order, several firms were commissioned for the manufacture of pieces for the remodeling, including Bembe and Kimbel of New York, Hammitt Desk Manufacturing Company of Philadelphia, and Doe, Hazelton and Company of Boston. A number of them were double-compartment desks for two people. The present desk is one of the single-person versions. They remained in service until an 1873 remodeling, when the desks were either given to Representatives or sold.

In good "as found" original condition. The finish is old, probably original, with wear and rubbing throughout. The piece exhibits normal shrinkage and wear consistent with age and use, most notably abrasions to the moldings around the perimeter just beneath the drawer. The leather top is worn and lifted at the corners. It is old, probably original. The tooled leather perimeter around the top, in a Greek-key pattern, exhibits substantial losses. There is a shallow splinter loss to the horizontal rail just above the top, about 1/4" wide by 3" long by 1/16" deep. The inkwells are absent. The lock is replaced. There are small splinter losses at the two corners of the cove molding on the bottom of the drawer. There is a loss to an applied scroll tip on one side of the base. The loss is about 3/4" by 1". Generally tight and sturdy.