Meet the man behind our individually handcrafted Jefferson Portable Desk, an authentic reproduction of the traveling desk Thomas Jefferson used to write the Declaration of Independence during trips between Monticello and Philadelphia. Continuing the Levenger tradition of partnering with skilled artisans and craftspeople to offer unique pieces of unmatched quality, we are proud to introduce the work of Rob Kutner to our product assortment.
Rob Kutner personally creates each and every piece by hand; he has no staff or employees. All his fine furniture pieces are created in Kutner’s garage workshop, in his spare time, at his home in the Sunset district of San Francisco, where he lives with his wife and two sons.
Unlike his wife of 24 years, Kutner is not a native San Franciscan, though he’s lived in the area since the late 1980s. From Texas originally, he graduated from U.C. Berkeley where he studied Russian language, expecting a boom in Russia/U.S. relations after Glasnost and Perestroika (which never really materialized). After a brief stint with a Russian airline, Kutner transitioned into construction work, first framing houses and then specializing in architectural millwork and interiors. There he developed a love for carpentry and woodworking that continues to this day.
When he married and settled down to raise a family, he segued into the high-tech world of Silicon Valley software sales and is currently a full-time account executive with a large software company. But his passion for woodworking never abated, and he found himself puttering around the garage nights and weekends, creating furniture pieces for his home and for friends.
His interest in authentic reproductions of period furniture were inspired by the designs of the outstanding cabinetmaker and Federal Furniture guru Rob Millard, whose articles and videos can be found on PopularWoodworking.com. (The Federal period style, often called the golden age of American furniture, thrived between 1789 and 1823 and was named for the Federalist Era in late 18th century American politics. ) Like Millard, Kutner employs the same furniture-making techniques and materials as were used 200+ years ago.
On Kutner’s online shop RAGDWoodworks, you can see examples of his recent work, including a drop-leaf table c.1805, a tea caddy c.1800 and a c.1790 card table, all featuring elaborate inlay work and scalloping details, in contrast to the utilitarian and (to use Kutner’s word) ‘democratic’ design of the Jefferson Portable Desk.
The desk is crafted of solid mahogany, a wood that was once plentiful but is becoming much scarcer today than it was back in the 18th century. “The beauty of mahogany is its that its color darkens and deepens over time,” Rob explains. “As a result, it looks better and better as the years go by.” A tip from Rob: Be careful of beams of sunlight falling on your wood furniture as it tends to leave an uneven “farmer’s tan.”
Rob estimates that each Jefferson Desk takes up to 120 hours to complete...though he’s never really timed himself. These days, with the increased demand for his handiwork, he’s able to work on a few pieces at a time, but the process is just as painstaking and meticulous. The result is an heirloom piece crafted to last not only a lifetime but for generations to come.
Whiling away the hours in his garage workshop has become more than a hobby or avocation for Rob Kutner; it’s something he does out of love and a desire to create. “It’s the perfect antidote to a high-tech career,” he says. “This type of work requires complete concentration—you forget all the hassles of the day. And there are no screens.”
“When a piece is finished, I feel a sense of calm, of satisfaction and pride to have created something that’s almost perfect.”
The Jefferson Portable Desk is made to order and availability is limited.