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6485

Title
Patrick White : writing desk, drawer contents, desk lamp, vase, typewriter, chair, cushion, and mat
Call number
SAFE/XR 54
Level of description
series
Date

ca. 1946+
Type of material
Objects
Reference code
6485
Issue Copy
Partly Digitised : contextual image
Physical Description
1 desk - red linoleum top, white border, yellow paint - 72.3 x 183.3 x 69.3 cm.
1 chair - cream vinyl - 83 x 57.1 cm.
1 cushion - tapestry pattern on olive green background) - 33 x 38 cm.
1 desk lamp - cream, extendable
1 vase - white & brown pottery - diam. 81 cm.
1 typewriter - portable `Optima', manual with blue surrounds
1 mat - patterned on red background with white fringe - 42.5 x 60.5 cm.
1 blue biro pen in yellow case
1 blue biro pen in green case
1 ceramic ashtray
1 fluorescent tube for desk lamp
1 eraser - 12.5 cm.
1 typewriter case - black with yellow striped cloth cover
1 paper knife - 22 x 3 cm.
1 blotter - 16 x 9 cm.
Scope and Content
ITEM 01: Desk, ca 1946 (red linoleum top, white border, yellow paint)
ITEM 02: Chair (cream vinyl)
ITEM 03: Cushion (tapestry pattern on olive green background)
ITEM 04: Desk lamp (cream, extendable)
ITEM 05: Vase (white & brown pottery)
ITEM 06: Typewriter and case, 1950+ (portable `Optima', manual, blue surrounds).
ITEM 07: Mat (patterned on red background with white fringe)
ITEM 08: Blue biro pen in yellow case
ITEM 09: Blue biro pen in green case
ITEM 10: Ceramic ashtry; inscribed "J. [?] Jobson"
ITEM 11: Fluorescent tube for desk lamp
ITEM 12: Eraser
ITEM 13: Paper knife
ITEM 14: Blotter
Access Conditions

Access via appointment
General note

Patrick White's desk was built in ca. 1946-47 by cabinet-maker Kenneth John Jackson of Jim Jackson and Sons, 45 Victoria Road, Parramatta. He believes that he followed the design of the desk from a sketch which was supplied.

Reference:
Information supplied by Mr Kenneth J. Jackson, 1991

"When White set up flat in London in 1938, he had a friend, the then little-known painter Francis Bacon, design a desk that was the last gasp in modernity - sleek, long lines ... When he and Mr Lascaris moved back to Australia ... he left the desk behind"

Reference:
Sydney Morning Herald, 5 July, 1991.
Digital order no:a2426001
Subject
White, Patrick, 1912-1990.
Topic
ashtrays
chairs
cushions
desk lamps
desks
furniture
mats
pens
typewriters
vases
Exhibited in

Writers festival 2004 - State Library of New South Wales (December 2003 - May 2004)
Stranger than fiction - State Library of New South Wales ( December 2009-May 2010). Applies to: Item 06.
The life of Patrick White - National Library of Australia (April 2012 - July 2012). Applies to: Items 1-10; 12-14.
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IE3358991