Seymour Style Tambour Lap Desk

Seymour style tambour lap desk-1800-1810

PRIMARY WOODS: Sapele and resawn figured walnut for veneer.Secondary wood is poplar. The lid on the inkwell tray is "lace wood"-1/4 sawn sycamore.

Inlay banding from: Saurer's & Co. #250-018-2

Reproduced from an article by Robert Millard-http://americanfederalperiod.com and a phone conversation with SAPFM member Bob Stevenson and his photos in the SAPFM gallery.

The hardware is from Horton Brasses,inc.

The finish is two coats of wipe on: Osmo Polyx-oil 33054 satin matt clear

The biggest challenge was reverse engineering from the photos and minimal dimensions available: 6-1/2" high x 14.00" deep x 9.0" wide.

Unlocking the drawer and pulling it out, re-tracks the tambour. The writing lid can than be opened until it rests on the drawer front, providing a single plane for the writing surface-which is covered in green baize fabric.

Flipping the lid back up, than closing the drawer, causes the tambour to hold the writing surface in place and with the drawer flush, the drawer can be locked.