Resolute Desk - Built For Pres. Rutherford B. Hayes 1880 PF1792

Under the supervision of world renowned artist H. J. Nick using only the finest materials. We use "No" engineered cores or faux materials such as paste boards, veneers, masonite, MDO plywood, melamine and oriented strand board panels with expensive wood sounding names such as walnut or hickory veneer etc.

Don't Be Fooled By Our Upscale Appearance. Our prices are usually lower than lesser quality name brand mass production imports, "We Are The Factory," Hand Crafted In America Since 1913.

The Resolute desk is a large, nineteenth-century partners' desk often chosen by presidents of the United States for use in the White House Oval Office. It was a present from Queen Victoria to President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1880 and was built from the timbers of the British barque-rigged ship HMS Resolute. Every president since Hayes, except Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Gerald Ford, has used the desk. President George H. W. Bush had the desk moved to the Treaty Room in the Executive Residence because he preferred the desk he used when he was vice president; later, President Bill Clinton returned the Resolute to the Oval Office.

HMS Resolute was part of a four-ship squadron under Edward Belcher sent in the early 1850s to search for famed English explorer Sir John Franklin, who was searching for the Northwest Passage to Asia. The Resolute and one of her sister ships became lodged in the Arctic ice, and after two full seasons, remained stuck. Following the second summer, the commander of the expedition instructed the crews of the two ships to board the two ships that lay outside the ice and sail back to England. After their return, Belcher was court-martialed for abandoning a seaworthy vessel, as the Resolute broke loose of the ice the subsequent summer and was found by an American fishing vessel captained by James Buddington.

The Resolute was towed into port and purchased by Congress for $40,000 and refitted. The Resolute was presented to Queen Victoria on December 17, 1856 as a token of peace. The Resolute served in the Royal Navy for 23 years following its return. When the ship was decommissioned in 1879, the British government arranged for a desk to be made from its timbers. It was built by William Evenden, a skilled joiner employed at the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham. It was presented to President Hayes on 23 November 1880.

A plate on the front of the desk bears the following inscription: H.M.S. RESOLUTE forming part of the expedition sent in search of SIR JOHN FRANKLIN IN 1852, was abandoned in latitude 74 degrees 41 minutes N longitude 101 degrees 22 minutes W on 15th May 1854. She was discovered and extricated in September 1855 in latitude 67 degrees N by Captain Buddington of the United States Whaler GEORGE HENRY.

The ship was purchased, fitted out and sent to England as a gift to HER MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA by the PRESIDENT AND PEOPLE of the UNITED STATES as a token of goodwill & friendship. This table was made from her timbers when she was broken up, and is presented by the QUEEN OF GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND to the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES as a memorial of the courtesy and loving kindness which dictated the offer of the gift of the RESOLUTE.

The desk was first commonly used by the president in his private study in the residence either in the present Yellow Oval Room or the Treaty Room. President John F. Kennedy first placed it in the Oval Office in 1961. Some presidents, such as George H. W. Bush, have used the desk in their private study rather than the Oval Office. Presently the desk has been in the Oval Office for the past 16 years, serving Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and current president, Barack Obama.

An exact twin of the American Resolute Desk resided for many years in the Chambers of Her Majesty the Queen in Buckingham Palace, London, England, UK. It was built to be an identical twin from the same timbers. It is currently thought to reside in Windsor Castle, Windsor, England, UK

ModificationsThe desk has been modified twice. President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered a front panel in order to hide his wheelchair. The hinged panel was commissioned in 1944 but was not delivered until 1945, following Roosevelt's death. President Truman had the panel installed anyway. The panel features the presidential seal"�one of only four in the White House that have the eagle's head turned towards the 13 arrows in the eagle's left talon, as opposed to the now-official arrangement with the eagle turned towards the olive branch in the right talon with the 13 leaves.

The second modification to the desk was made under Ronald Reagan. President Reagan brought his chair from the capitol in California; it was tall enough that his knees bumped into the desk when he moved. As a result, the desk was raised two inches to accommodate Reagan and his chair; this was achieved by adding a separate, uniform base to the desk to make way for his chair.

Details As Shown: The President Of United States Of Americas Resolute Desk 72"L x 48"D x 30'' T is a large nineteenth century partners' desk that is frequently selected by U.S. presidents for use in the White House Oval Office. It was a present from Queen Victoria to President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1880, and built from the timbers of the British barque-rigged ship HMS Resolute. Every president since Hayes, except Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Gerald Ford, have used this desk. President George W. Bush had the desk moved to the Treaty Room in the Executive Residence, but President Bill Clinton returned the Resolute to the Oval Office.

Scottsdale Art Factory Can Recreate This Desk As Original Works from thick natural air dried old sunken ships timbers found in the deep sea.

Most of this reclaimed timber is from the 15-18th century sunken ships. This material would be as close as any one can get to the wood used in the presidents desk when it was built by Queen Victoria in 1792. Using this solid timber and the hands of our master carvers. All design carving is a solid part of the main structure, no glued up, added on design pieces, veneers or fake materials. All of our processes are the same processes as used by the craftsmen in the 18th century.

When The Price Matters Scottsdale Art Factory Can Recreate This Desk As Limited Edition Works

using mahogany or oak solid timber and the hands of our master carvers. All design carving is a solid part of the main structure, no glued up, added on design pieces, veneers or fake materials. All of our processes are the same processes as used by the craftsmen in the 18th century.

This desk is just like the original in every detail, even down to the screws used to lock the doors in the desk pedestals.

The The Resolute Desk is hand carved and made from start to finish by our master carvers who have obtained their skills from generations before them. There are no production lines with this desk! The drawers are all hand dovetailed with solid wood drawer bottoms, just like the original.

The only modern change we have made with this resolute desk is the file drawers are on slides, otherwise it would be like going back in time and seeing the desk as it was originally made.

We antique the resolute desk to look just like the original back in 1880. Finally, before the desk is ready to be shipped to you, we apply the fine Scottish leather hides on the desk top. We use only full hides which show the beauty and luxury of this leather. The Desk leather top is then gold gilded by hand and sealed.

Words From Queen Victoria The front side has doors with drawers above, the centre drawer has a copy of the original brass plate with the words from Queen Victoria to the President and people of the United States.

Underneath this plate is the famous Presidential Seal carved on the secret door. This door was made famous when John Jr. was seen poking his head through it whilst having a playful time with his father, President JFK.

The opposite side features doors and drawers with additional file drawers behind the doors with drawers above.

Additional features can be incorporated such as cable holes for computers, telephones and keyboards if required.

All Drawers And Slides Are Full Extention easy glide tracks. Each drawer is fitted with custom, hand forged, solid steel hardware. Mar proof leveling feet are included.

Finish Details: We Can Natural Finish To Any Appearance Desired Our final finish processes includes five to ten coats of hand rubbed furniture quality clear oils or water based non-toxic lacquers. It is applied, cured, rubbed and re-applied depending upon whether your order is limited edition or old growth original works. Every surface of this furnishing is finely finished including the undersides and hidden areas. These furnishings are built to investment family heirloom quality and are finished to be virtually maintenance free and will stand the test of time. You may choose the natural color, from over 400 standard stain colors or we will computer color match to any color stain you may desire. Most of our finishes are water based and earth friendly. You may order any single stain color or texture finish at no extra charge. If raised grain finish is desired, the wire brushed raised grain of the natural cedar is designed to appear rustic and aged, however this is a highly finished, snag and splinter free surface.