A VICTORIAN WALNUT VENEERED AND GRAIN-PAINTED CHAIR-DESK

This unusual combination chair and desk closely resembles drawings accompanying Stephen Hedges' patent no. 10, 740 for a "convertible chair." Patented in April 1854, the invention was described by Hedges as "A new and useful Piece of Furniture, Intended to Serve as a Table Alone or as Chair and Table combined." What he claimed as unique was the manner of hinging "a table of ordinary construction" with a chair to form a small stand, writing desk, and chair in one.