Two rosewood lap desks and two brass buckles of Philadelphia interest first half 19th century

Comprising a brass-mounted rosewood lap desk, the brass plaque to lid engraved, "G.P. Nice/ From his Pupils/ Dec. 25th 1840"; a brass-mounted rosewood lap desk, the brass plaque to lid engraved, "E.C. Yarnall/ 1846"; a brass buckle, engraved, "Robert A. Parrish/ Philadelphia"; and a brass buckle, engraved, "H.H. Ellison/ 22 South 6th St./ Philada."

H: 5 in. W: 15 in. D: 9 1/2 in. (largest box)

Note

The engraved name on the lap desk, "E.C. Yarnall" refers to Emma Cope Yarnall (d. 1888), born in Baltimore in 1808. She married Charles Yarnall (1800-1877) of Philadelphia on October 8, 1834. They had two children, Ellis Horner Yarnall (b. 1839) and Anna Yarnall (b. 1844). Charles was a successful merchant by trade, and was involved in other scholastic endeavors including being a founder of Haverford College. He also was a member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and was active in charitable organizations, such as assisting Pennsylvania Hospital. See John Woolf Jordan, Colonial Families of Philadelphia (New York: Lewis Pub. Co., 1911), Vol. 2, pg. 23.

The address on the brass buckle, 22 S. 6th Street, refers to what is now part of Independence Mall, and is the present site of the Independence Visitor Center, where the Liberty Bell is housed.

Provenance

E.C. Yarnall lap desk: Pook & Pook, Downingtown, Pennsylvania, December 8 and 9, 2011, lot 1108

Property of a Philadelphia collector.