English Writing Desk

“Growing up in the South, I’ve been fortunate to have a long history of antiques in my family, many of which have been passed down to me, but I won’t ever forget the first piece I purchased myself. It was an antique English from the 1800s, and I spotted it when I was at a flea market with my mom. We were on a shopping trip for some things for her house when I saw it. It was perfect: solid pine, with a very light finish that made it feel a little more modern, with two doors and gorgeous spindle legs. We had just gotten there so I told the dealer that I was going to look around a little bit more, but when we came back, another woman was getting ready to purchase it, and I was heartbroken. I had already fallen in love with it. A few minutes later, though, the woman turned her back, and I snagged it! All’s fair in love and war. It’s made a lot of moves in and out of many houses with me since then, and it’s been shifted from the bedroom, to the kitchen, to the living room, and back again, where I still use it today. It translates beautifully any place I put it.”

What: Antique Writing Desk

Where/When: From England circa 1800

Who: While Wheeler doesn’t know much about the desk’s previous owners, he likes to pretend: “I like to envision that it was in someone’s second home, and that the person who owned it was not necessarily aristocracy but that they had a prominent place in society that required them to write many letters. You can tell it’s been used a lot because different marks and imprints have been imbedded into the desk. So I like to think of them sitting at it by a window overlooking some lovely rolling hills and penning something to a friend. It’s such a nice thought to have in today’s world of instant and mass communication.”