United States House of Representatives: History, Art, & Archives
Search the website

Constantine Desk

A wooden desk with a sloping top, closed drawer, two knobs, a shelf below, and four turned legs. The desk is wider at the side closest to the sitter./tiles/collection/5/5883.xml
Download this image
Wooden nameplate from a desk, with carved letters reading “T.H. Benton”/tiles/collection/5/5882.xml
Download this image
A wooden desk with a sloping top, closed drawer, two knobs, a shelf below, and four turned legs. The desk is wider at the side closest to the sitter.
Wooden nameplate from a desk, with carved letters reading “T.H. Benton”
Previous Next

Date

1819

Maker

Thomas Constantine (designer)

Dimensions

30 3/4 x 24 x 21 3/4 in. (78.1 x 61 x 55.2 cm)

Accession Number

2005.156.000

Credit Line

Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives

Object Details

Designed by New York cabinetmaker Thomas Constantine, this desk was used by Congressman Thomas Hart Benton, who later served in the Senate. He sat in this single-drawer version of the Thomas Constantine–designed desk, in the front row, when he served in the House during the 33rd Congress. Its bowed hexagonal shape allowed for the curved seating rows in the Chamber. All the Chamber desks had unusual shapes like this example, and some had two or three drawers.

Rights and Reproduction Information

Jump To

View Related Objects

Constantine Chair
Constantine Chair

View Related Exhibitions & Publications

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