THENEnglish Figured Mahogany Chippendale Style Partners Desk, $6,450, 1stdibs.comTHE TWO-SIDED PARTNERS desk derived from the pedigreed pedestal desk, whose deep drawers not only held files and such but supported the writing surface and a lengthy central drawer. The tête-à-tête variation, with a deeper top and storage on both sides, first appeared in England circa 1850 and found a fan base among upper-echelon bankers. The new configuration conferred the weighty status of its forebear to two executives at once, and saved space in the bargain. Before long, the piece’s appealing efficiency, both in its small footprint and its ability to foster gossip between colleagues, had spread to other professions and down the corporate ladder. By century’s end, offices on both sides of the pond were carpeted with them.

Source: Wall Street Journal September 27, 2018 17:03 UTC