A REPLICA OF 'THE RESOLUTE DESK', also known as 'The Hayes Desk', an ornately carved mahogany partners desk, the top with a tooled black leather skiver and a moulded edge over a dentil frieze, above three short drawers and two cupboard doors to each side, all profusely carved, the central drawer bearing a brass plaque, on plinth base.

79cm high x 191cm wide x 121cm deep

The original being gifted to President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1880 and constructed from the oak timbers of the HMS Resolute. Originally kept in the president's office until the White House reconstruction of 1948 - 1952 and subsequently placed in the broadcast room and used for television and radio broadcasts by Dwight D. Eiswenhower. It was brought to the Oval Office in 1961 for use by John F. Kennedy and has remained there since with the exception of a travelling exhibition following the death of President Kennedy and then a stay in the Smithsonian until 1977.

The brass plaque to the drawer reads as follows:

'H.M.S. 'RESOLOUTE', part of the expedition sent in search of SIR JOHN FRANKLIN in 1852, was abandoned in latitude 75° 41' N Longitude 101 "22' W on May 15, 1854. She was discovered and extricated in September 1855, in latitude 67°N. by Captain Buddington of the United States whaler 'George Henry'. The ship was purchased, fitted out and sent to England as a gift to Her Majesty Queen Victoria by the President and People of the United States, as a token of goodwill and friendship. This desk was originally made from her timbers when she was broken up and presented by The Queen of Great Britain and Ireland to The President of the United States of America, as a memorial of the courtesy and loving kindness which dictated the offer of the gift of the 'RESOLOUTE'.