Frank Lloyd Wright

The “Chair Desk” in this listing was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for installation in the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Larkin Administration Building Buffalo NY USA during the early 20th century. This is a what is known as a “Chair Desk”. The desk is made of punched and folded heavy gauge steel with 6 detachable cast iron feet. All of the office furniture installed in the Larkin building was designed in metal as a fire preventive measure. Van Dorn Iron Works of Cleveland Ohio fabricated the desks, including the 1 listed here, as well as filing cabinets, chairs & lighting fixtures all of which were designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The attached folding chair is mounted to a large cast iron swing arm that is hinged, cantilever, to the desk. The desk is equipped with 6 drawers of varying sizes, attached to each drawer is a bronze pull handle. This would allow for access to the drawer from either side of the desk in a busy office environment. The top is made of thick pine boards and more than likely is not the original top. The original desk tops were made of Magnesite. Magnesite was used extensively throughout the entire building, fire preventive, including on some parts of the furniture. Magnesite is a naturally formed mineral and has many uses, it can be mixed and used in a similar manner as concrete. With a simple Google search one can find information on Magnesite. The cast iron cantilever swing arm is stamped with the initials V. Van Dorn Iron Works Cleveland Ohio. There is a small brass tag affixed to the right end side when facing, I did show in pics. There is also a # stamped in the top right rear corner of the desk. Please view all pics as they are considered to be part of the item description. Pieces such as this 1 do not surface often, this 1 is fresh to the market, recent estate find here in Buffalo NY USA 716. The desk was hidden away long forgotten & destined for the scrap yard. At the moment of discovery I became steward of the desk, I held the key to its survival. Save it or leave it for the scrappers. I labored for hours to remove it from its crypt, thoughts of giving up due to the shear weight of it crossed my mind many times but I managed to carry on and now here it is for your consideration. You can own it. I will personally deliver it to you anywhere in the Continental USA. For more information on the desk and to view period correct pictures of the desk and other interesting Larkin Building facts please see the book Frank Lloyd Wright’s Larkin Building Myth and Fact. You can also Google images chair desk Larkin Building Buffalo NY to view period correct pictures of the desk. The item “Frank Lloyd Wright Designed Chair Desk Larkin Building Buffalo NY Van Dorn Iron” is in sale since Saturday, June 24, 2017. This item is in the category “Antiques\Furniture\Desks & Secretaries\1900-1950″. The seller is “koolfinds716″ and is located in Buffalo, New York. This item can’t be shipped, the buyer must pick up the item.

• Type: Chair Desk
• Color: Brown
• Maker: Van Dorn Iron Works Cleveland Ohio USA
• Age: 1900-1950
• Region of Origin: America
• Original/Reproduction: Original
• Material: Iron and steel