Desk
1770
Medium
Mahogany
Dimensions
42 x 37 x 18 1/2 in. (106.7 x 94 x 47 cm)
Classification
Desk
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of the family of Edward and Kaye Scheider, 2007
Accession Number
2007.158a–e
Art Historical Context
This elegant mahogany desk, crafted by Henry Rust in 1770, exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of late colonial America. Measuring 42 x 37 x 18½ inches, it was designed for practicality and display, likely serving prosperous merchants or professionals in their studies. Mahogany, a premium imported wood from the West Indies, was prized for its rich grain, durability, and lustrous polish—materials that signaled wealth and sophistication in pre-Revolutionary households. Henry Rust, working in this pivotal era just before American independence, contributed to the burgeoning tradition of high-st...