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

Walter Desk/tiles/collection/6/6586.xml
Walter Desk/tiles/collection/6/6587.xml
Walter Desk/tiles/collection/6/6588.xml
Walter Desk/tiles/collection/6/6589.xml
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Date

1857

Artist

Thomas Ustick Walter

Maker

Doe, Hazelton Company

Dimensions

35 1/2 x 29 1/2 x 21 in. (90.2 x 74.9 x 53.3 cm)

Accession Number

2006.019.000

Credit Line

Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives

Object Details

When the House's new Chamber opened in 1857, it boasted 262 desks in the latest Renaissance Revival fashion. The Doe, Hazelton Company of Boston made the desks according to Architect of the Capitol Thomas U. Walter's elaborate design. Function was an important consideration, as well. Wooden inkwells with cloth-lined lids were prescribed, rather than noisy metal versions. The inkwell itself was sunken into the desk so that it could not be taken by "prying messengers and pages."

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Walter Chair
Walter Chair

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House Chamber 1857–1950: Furniture
House Chamber 1857–1950: Furniture
Office of the Historian: history@mail.house.gov
Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk: art@mail.house.gov, archives@mail.house.gov