A quick study

Older generations – myself included – will remember the archetypal school desk with its lift-up lid and inkwell. Generations of school children grew up with them, each adding their mark to the often heavily graffitied educational workhorses, not forgetting the chewing gum that was usually stuck underneath! With the advent of the biro the inkwells had long become redundant but the desks continued in use for decades. I often see them for sale and I think it’s safe to say that people view them with a sense of nostalgia. They are also an upcycling favourite for children’s bedrooms and playrooms.

The word ‘desk’ comes from the medieval Latin word , which quite literally means ‘table to write on’. Although unproven we can assume that desks of some sort may have existed since ancient times, but in the mid to late medieval period we know that furniture was ascribed definitive uses by virtue of small design implementations, such as compartments in a drawer to house quills, sealing wax and utensils.