Arthur Espenet Carpenter
Rolltop Desk, 1968

About this Arthur Espenet Carpenter Desk

This single slab, book-matched crotch California Walnut desk was first designed in 1969 by Arthur Espenet Carpenter as part of custom commission. The artist referred to the original design as a “clumsy affair” containing a fold-in typewriter and vertical bank of drawers. Espenet Carpenter saw the potential in the initial design and thus meticulously refined the desk to what exists today.

Since Espenet Carpenter perfected the design, roughly 20 of these rolltop desks have been produced using the templates developed during the construction of the third model. The pigeonhole arrangements have changed “according to my whim at the time,” the artist states, but the basic shapes and measurements of the overall structure remain the same.

The Minimalist Vision of Arthur Espenet Carpenter

Through his self-taught techniques and refined vision, Arthur Espenet Carpenter has produced furniture that prioritizes comfort and utility while still maintaining a streamlined and appealing visual aesthetic. Espenet Carpenter’s meticulous attention to detail manifests in his use of premium wood selections, even going so far as to consider the scent profile of the wood he worked with.

About Arthur Espenet Carpenter

Arthur Espenet Carpenter was born in 1920 and grew up in New York City. While serving in the U.S. Navy, Espenet Carpenter realized his desire for a creative career, and upon his return home, moved to San Francisco and charted out on new and artistic endeavors. He got his start in woodworking with humble bowls before moving into furniture design, where he became an iconic studio craft movement woodworker.

Designed and created by Arthur Espenet Carpenter in 1968.

Material: California walnut wood