The Pratt Fall Front Desk: A Greene and Greene Masterpiece
Charles Sumner Greene, American, 1868-1957 and Henry Mather Greene, American, 1870-1954, designers
Peter Hall Manufacturing Company, Pasadena, CA, manufacturer
Honduran mahogany and ebony, silver, copper, burled hardwood, leather
The Charles Millard Pratt House constructed in Ojai, California in 1912 was one of the final “Ultimate Bungalows” designed by brothers Charles and Henry Greene. These large bungalow style homes built by Greene and Greene in southern California represent the perfect mix of Arts and Crafts design and luxury living. This fall front desk is a one-of-a-kind piece constructed specifically for the Pratt house, and was conceived for the living room.
The Pratt desk is the product of measured and meticulous design by the Greenes and the astonishing craftmanship of master furniture maker Peter Hall, who worked on many commissions for the Greenes. Every inch of the desk planned and designed by the Greenes follows their attention to detail and stylistic design vocabulary they had developed during their careers. For this desk, they were inspired by the surrounding Ojai valley with its distinctive gnarled trees. To bring their design to life, Hall used a variety of woods including the rare fiddle-back and flame-figured mahogany (pronounced striations and “flame” shapes in the woodgrain for the main panels,) and a variety of hard woods for the inlays that create the lifelike oaks. The designs are further enhanced with ebony and copper and silver wire creating realistic depictions of the tress surrounding the area.
See this and other exemplary works in Masterpieces: Extraordinary works from the Two Red Roses Foundation on view now, exhibition catalogue available for purchase in MAACM’s Museum Store.