Renaissance refers to the period of time in Europe between the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries. 

Renaissance Revival style featured many of the special elements borrowed from the architecture of Ancient Greece and Rome, and buildings of sixteenth-century Italy. 

The maker of this desk, Ernst Gehlmann, was a contractor for the owner, Wellington Huffaker, who commissioned it for his mansion. The desk would have been made with hand tools used by carpenters working for Mr. Gehlmann.