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kneehole desk
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Kneehole desk, French, early 18th century; in the Wallace Collection, London.
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kneehole desk

furniture
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Kneehole desk, French, early 18th century; in the Wallace Collection, London.
Kneehole desk, French, early 18th century; in the Wallace Collection, London.

A kneehole desk is a type of desk characterized by an open space designed to accommodate the user's knees, flanked by two banks of drawers or cupboards. This design, developed in England in the early 18th century, allows for a more comfortable writing or working position. Larger versions of this desk, sometimes called library tables or partners' desks, can even accommodate two people working opposite each other. Modern desks, including those with a kneehole design, often incorporate features to meet contemporary needs, such as platforms for computers or drawers for filing.123

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