September 2013 Auction Ends Thursday, September 26th, 5pm Pacific

White House Oval Office Resolute Desk

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/26/2013

White House Oval Office Resolute desk handcrafted from dark red Swietana mahogany. Originally crafted from the salvaged oak timbers of a sunken British explorer's ship, the H.M.S. Resolute, the desk was presented as a gift to U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes from Queen Victoria of England in 1880. The desk remained in the President's second floor White House study for many years, even following the completion of the West Wing. After President Franklin D. Roosevelt took office, he requested that the rear kneehole be fitted with a panel that would conceal his leg braces. Unfortunately, Roosevelt died shortly before the panel could be installed in 1945. Following the 1948-1952 renovation of the Truman White House, the desk appeared in the ground floor broadcast room of the Presidential manse, from which President Dwight D. Eisenhower made numerous radio and television broadcasts. When President John F. Kennedy took office, the Resolute desk was installed in the Oval Office for the first time, thanks to the efforts of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. The desk became famously featured in a whimsical photograph of President John F. Kennedy at work while son John Jr. peeked out from behind the kneehole panel. After President Lyndon B. Johnson selected another desk for his office, the Resolute desk was donated to a Kennedy Library traveling exhibition in the mid-1960's. Following the tour, the desk was forwarded to the Smithsonian for exhibition, where it remained until January 1977, when President Jimmy Carter requested the return of the desk to the Oval Office. In 1989, President George H. Bush utilized the desk for five months before having it moved to his residence office in exchange for a favored desk originating from his Vice Presidential West Wing office. The Resolute was returned to the Oval Office in 1993 after President Bill Clinton took office, and has remained an Oval Office fixture ever since. This impressive piece is a stunning replica of the original 1880 design. Desk measures 76'' width x 48'' depth x 30'' height, constructed of Swietana mahogany with a maroon tooled leather top. Features four lockable file and cupboard drawers, and six letter drawers. Accompanying chair also available.