Brock Jobe
The Lisle Desk-and-Bookcase: A Rhode Island Icon

Figure 1

Desk-and-bookcase associated with John Goddard, Newport, Rhode Island, ca. 1761. Mahogany with maple, poplar, red cedar, white pine, and yellow poplar. H. 96 1/2", W. 45 13/16", D. 26". (Courtesy, Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design, bequest of Martha B. Lisle; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) www.risd.edu

Figure 2

Detail of the bookcase interior of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 1. (Bequest of Martha B. Lisle; Photo, Gavin Ashworth.) www.risd.edu

Figure 3

Detail of the desk interior of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 1. (Bequest of Martha B. Lisle; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) www.risd.edu

Figure 4

Infrared photograph of the inscription on the back of a drawer in the writing compartment of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 1. (Courtesy of Historic New England.)

Figure 5

Infrared photograph of the inscription on the side of a drawer in the writing compartment of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 1. (Courtesy of Historic New England.)

Figure 6

Jonas Bergner, John Goddard’s house and shop, Newport, Rhode Island, before 1870. Watercolor on paper. (Courtesy, Newport Historical Society.)

Figure 7

Desk-and-bookcase, Newport, Rhode Island, 1760–1770. Mahogany with maple, red cedar, white pine, and yellow poplar. H. 97 7/8", W. 45 3/8", D. 25 1/2". (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum.)

Figure 8

Detail of the interior of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 7.

Figure 9

Desk-and-bookcase, Newport, Rhode Island, 1755–1770. Mahogany with chestnut, yellow poplar, red cedar, and white pine. H. 101 3/4", W. 43 1/8", D. 26". (Courtesy, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.)

Figure 10

Drawing showing detail of the interior of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 9. (Artwork, Wynne Patterson.)

Figure 11

Desk-and-bookcase, Newport, Rhode Island, 1765–1785. Mahogany with cherry, chestnut, white pine, and yellow poplar. H. 106 3/4", W. 44 3/4", D. 24 7/8". (Courtesy, Yale University Art Gallery, Mabel Brady Garvan Collection.)

Figure 12

Detail of the interior of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 11.

Figure 13

Desk-and-bookcase, Newport, Rhode Island, 1765–1785. Mahogany with cherry, chestnut, and white pine. H. 113", W. 42 1/2", D. 25". (Courtesy, Christie’s.)

Figure 14

Detail of the interior of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 13. (Courtesy, Israel Sack, Inc.)

Figure 15

Desk-and-bookcase, Newport, Rhode Island, 1760–1770. Mahogany with maple, red cedar, white pine, and yellow poplar. H. 101", W. 45 1/2", D. 27". (Courtesy, Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design, bequest of Martha B. Lisle; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) www.risd.edu

Figure 16

Detail of the bookcase interior of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 15. ( Bequest of Martha B. Lisle; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) www.risd.edu

Figure 17

Detail of the desk interior of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 15. (Bequest of Martha B. Lisle; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) www.risd.edu

Figure 18

Desk-and-bookcase, Newport, Rhode Island, 1760–1770. Mahogany with cherry, chestnut, red cedar, white pine, yellow pine, and yellow poplar. H. 99 1/8", W. 44 5/8", D. 25 1/2". (Courtesy, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rogers Fund, 1915.)

Figure 19

Detail of the interior of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 18.

Figure 20

Desk-and-bookcase, Newport, Rhode Island, 1765–1785. Mahogany with cherry, chestnut, maple, white pine, and yellow poplar. H. 99", W. 39 7/8", D. 23 5/8". (Courtesy, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, M. and M. Karolik Collection.)

Figure 21

Detail of the interior of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 20.

Figure 22

Desk-and-bookcase, Newport, Rhode Island, 1755–1770. Mahogany with cedrela, chestnut, maple, poplar, red cedar, white pine, and yellow poplar. H. 99 3/4", W. 44 1/2", D. 25 1/2". (Courtesy, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Bayou Bend Collection, gift of Miss Ima Hogg.)

Figure 23

Detail of the bookcase interior of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 22.

Figure 24

Detail of the desk interior of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 22.

Figure 25

Drawing showing the construction of the lower case of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 1. Adapted from Jeffrey P. Greene, American Furniture of the 18th Century. (Courtesy, Taunton Press).

Figure 26

Detail of the foot construction of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 1. (Bequest of Martha B. Lisle; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) www.risd.edu

Figure 27

Detail of the lower case interior of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 1. (Bequest of Martha B. Lisle; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) www.risd.edu

Figure 28

Detail of the dovetail joints for a valance drawer and a larger drawer in the desk interior of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 1. (Bequest of Martha B. Lisle.) www.risd.edu

Figure 29

Detail of the rear surface of a valance drawer in the desk interior of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 1. (Bequest of Martha B. Lisle.) www.risd.edu

Figure 30

Detail of an applied block on the rear surface of an exterior drawer front of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 1. (Bequest of Martha B. Lisle.) www.risd.edu

Figure 31

Drawing showing the construction of the upper case of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 1. Adapted from Jeffrey P. Greene, American Furniture of the 18th Century. (Courtesy, Taunton Press.)

Figure 32

Drawing showing the construction of the desk fallboard and bookcase door of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 1. Adapted from Jeffrey P. Greene, American Furniture of the 18th Century. (Courtesy, Taunton Press.)

Figure 33

Detail of a quarter-column on the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 11.

Figure 34

Detail of the carved shells on the fallboard of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 11.

Figure 35

Detail of the interior of the lower case of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 11.

Figure 36

Detail of the carved shells on the fallboard of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 1. (Bequest of Martha B. Lisle; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) www.risd.edu

Figure 37

Detail of the pediment, doors, and a finial on the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 1. (Bequest of Martha B. Lisle.) www.risd.edu

Figure 38

Detail of a quarter-column on the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 1. (Bequest of Martha B. Lisle; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) www.risd.edu

Figure 39

Detail of a removable side panel in the bookcase interior of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 1. (Bequest of Martha B. Lisle.) www.risd.edu

Figure 40

Detail of the front foot of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 1. (Bequest of Martha B. Lisle; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) www.risd.edu

Figure 41

Detail of the carved shells on the fallboard of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 7.

Figure 42

Detail of the carved shells on the fallboard of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 15. (Bequest of Martha B. Lisle; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) www.risd.edu

Figure 43

Detail of a quarter-column on the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 15. (Bequest of Martha B. Lisle; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) www.risd.edu

Figure 44

Detail of the bookcase interior of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 1. (Bequest of Martha B. Lisle; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) www.risd.edu

Figure 45

Detail of the bookcase interior of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 15. (Bequest of Martha B. Lisle; photo, Gavin Ashworth.) www.risd.edu

Figure 46

Detail of the dovetailed joint for an exterior drawer of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 1. (Bequest of Martha B. Lisle.) www.risd.edu

Figure 47

Detail of the dovetailed joint for an exterior drawer of the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 15. (Bequest of Martha B. Lisle.) www.risd.edu

Figure 48

Photograph showing the desk-and-bookcase illustrated in fig. 22 prior to conservation. (Courtesy, Robert W. Symonds Collection, Visual Resources, Winterthur Library.)