United States House of Representatives: History, Art, & Archives
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Klipper Desk

Wooden desk with a hinged top, writing surface, keyhole, and lattice design/tiles/collection/2/2733.xml
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Wooden desk with a lattice design, carvings, a small number plate, and a hinged top/tiles/collection/2/2735.xml
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Wooden desk with a lattice design, carvings, a small number plate, and a hinged top/tiles/collection/2/2736.xml
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Wooden desk with a hinged top, writing surface, keyhole, and lattice design
Wooden desk with a lattice design, carvings, a small number plate, and a hinged top
Wooden desk with a lattice design, carvings, a small number plate, and a hinged top
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Date

1873

Manufacturer

Klipper, Webster & Company

Accession Number

2005.122.000

Credit Line

Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives, Gift of the Pryor and Atkinson Families

Object Details

This desk type was the last style to be designed for the House Chamber. Introduced in 1873, the so-called Klipper desks—nicknamed for their manufacturing firm—were more compact and less flamboyantly Victorian than the 1857 models that they replaced. Sparely adorned, these desks served as Member’s Chamber workspace until 1901 when space for 34 more seats was needed. Later, desks were simply no longer necessary; as of 1909, every Member had designated office space in the House Office Building, now called the Cannon House Office Building.

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Office of the Historian: history@mail.house.gov
Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk: art@mail.house.gov, archives@mail.house.gov