This desk is designed to be placed against a wall and is composed of fine mahogany with the finest shell and claw & ball carving that one expects to see on the finest period piece of Philadelphia furniture.  The cabinetmaker was a master and the wood is fine mahogany with hand-dovetailed construction and clearly benchmade.   This desk , which is designed to go against a wall, as it has an unfinished back, is often used in conjunction with a center desk we illustrate (sw00521) creating an effective office suite.