duPont Desk

First associated with James Madison in Ester Singleton’s 1913 book, The Furniture of Our Forefathers, where it was described as a “simply mahogany desk” located in Richmond, this writing desk descended through the Coles family. Edward Coles, Dolley’s second cousin, served as President Madison’s private secretary 1809-1815. Later elected the second governor of Illinois, Coles purchased a number of objects at the sale of Dolley’s estate in 1851. Sometime after 1913, Marion duPont Scott acquired the desk for use at Montpelier, and one of her heirs later bequeathed it to The Montpelier Foundation.

Desks of this kind were commonly used by women, suggesting it may have been used by Dolley, who often assisted James Madison with his work in his declining years. The relatively diminutive size of the piece made it ideal for use in small studies. The upper case features cubbyholes and small drawers, and three long drawers with original cast brass pulls are fitted to the bottom case. The turning on the legs suggest the desk was made in New England in the early 19th century.