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The Popular Larkin Desk desk” because of its size and affordability to the homes of the middle
It was the Chautauqua desk that became known as the “everyman’s

Of the thousands class. This desk was most often used by the woman of the house to store
of premiums offered her library and the paperwork needed to run the house without having
over the life of the to take up too much room. It is noted that this desk was the most com-
company, Larkin’s mon item in almost all homes of the period thanks to the Larkin Idea
most famous—from and steady marketing. It was the hottest decorating item for many
the earliest days years, and since Mr. Larkin’s name was attached to the form—whether
forward—was the it came from his factory or a competitor’s—it was and is still commonly
“Chautauqua desk,” referred to as the “Larkin Desk.”
offered at least as Following the changing tastes
far back as the 1899 in home décor across the years, the
catalog. This venera- 1908 catalog continued the golden
ble oak drop front oak format but started to show ele-
desk with the open ments of the popular Arts & Crafts
bottom storage was furniture style. Then, in 1909, the
given as premium for popularity of the Colonial Revival
a $10 purchase of movement resulted in a “Colonial”
soap. In solid oak piece showing up in the catalog.
with a golden finish, The library table was offered in
applied carving and solid golden oak of course, but in a
a beveled French radical departure, it was also
mirror, this desk is offered in low sheen mahogany.
pointed to as the By the mid-1920s, all three fur-
From the 1899 Larkin Soap catalog, this image shows impetus for the niture styles that were prominent
the use of the “Everyman’s Desk” with a detailed golden oak period of in the first quarter of the century
description and sales copy American furniture. could be bought with Larkin Soap
For purchasing purchases. The 1925 catalog had
just $10 worth of Larkin Soap you could choose to receive, as described more than 900 premium items,
in the 1899 catalog, this desk is: most of them manufactured in

“Made of Solid Oak throughout, strong and substantial. Larkin factories in Buffalo.
Beautiful hand-rubbed, durable finish. Fine 8 x 14 bevel French Variations on the initial Chatauqua
plate mirror. Brass rod for curtains. Very handsome carvings. Drop desk were made as the needs for
leaf provides a writing bed 24 inches deep. Seven pigeon-holes design changes took place. Now
for papers, compartments for letter paper, etc., under lock and there was a desk featuring a glass
key. It is a perfect and complete desk, and also has three roomy front case with a drop front desk
book shelves and two shelves for bric-a-brac. A remarkably com- attached to the side, one with two
An advertisement for the Chautauqua desk
pact piece of furniture for the facilities it affords. It is five (5) feet glass front cases with a desk in the targeted at the younger generation looking to
high, two and a half (2 ½) feet wide and ten (10) inches deep. middle, a drop front desk with start establishing their home.
“This desk originated with us, and has been more widely imi- three drawers below, and a simple
tated than anything ever produced in the furniture line. We have drop front desk with two drawers and room below for the writer’s legs
sent them to almost every town in America; and to several places to spread out. While these other desks proved very popular, none were
over a thousand each. We can doubtless refer you to your own as successful as the original Chautauqua desk.
neighbors who have this desk, and it, like all our premiums, will
surpass your expectations.” A Larkin Desk of Your Own

Included in the description was, of course, key sales copy – The sheer number of Larkin desks manufactured for customers is so
“All orders, if on thirty days’ trial, must be signed by the head large you can come across at least one example at just about any antique
of the family,” and “Our Famous $10.00 ‘Chautauqua’ Desk Free show you attend. Values for the Chatauqua desk tend to run from
for selling or using a $10.00 Combination Case of the Larkin Soaps $400-$850 depending upon condition. Given that $10 in the 1890s
– Thirty Days’ Free Trial.” converts to $325.68 today, these desks have more than held their value,
so be choosy when picking one up to bring home.
A Furniture Center is Born Key things to consider before your purchase include confirmation
that you truly have a Larking desk
Through Larkin’s inventiveness, the city of Buffalo became one of
the major mass-production locations of American furniture. The factory- made of solid quarter-sawn oak with its
original hardware (if you’re very lucky)
made furniture was built from solid, quarter-sawn oak cut and milled the original curtain rod included with
in Tennessee – no veneers allowed. No fancy joinery, either. Some the original purchase. The back of the
of desks were so easy to assemble that they were shipped flat and piece, originally made from plywood,
assembled on-site at the buyer’s house by Larkin assemblymen. may have been replaced, but make sure
For the first time, here was a major catalog distributor who actually
made the furniture they shipped. Between the furniture manufacturing it is still a quality piece of wood. If a
single part of the desk was restored or
and the establishment of Buffalo Pottery to make crockery premiums replaced, make sure the oak used is
in-house, the Larkin Companies had grown so influential that it received white oak, not red. Unless you have a
its own building for display at the Pan American Exposition in 1901. replacement, stay away from those
with broken mirrors or those that show
A Successful Run excessive wear and tear.
Furniture was one of the primary premiums given out by the Larkin
Soap Company. John Larkin had a strong marketing sense for that cat- This take on the Chautauqua Desk is called
egory as well as for his ever-expanding number of soap products. With “Writing Desk No. 7” and features drawers on
the bottom and no mirror at the top.
his intention to reach as many households as possible, Larkin chose to “The inside arrangement is the same as in our
present furniture designs that would fit the lifestyle of the populous Chautauqua Desk.”
middle class rather than pander to the “downtown” set. This example is for sale on Etsy for $845
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