Piece one of few examples left by artist Charles Rohlfs

Churchill Crocker Auctions will feature one of the few surviving hand-carved desks created by legendary New York Arts & Crafts designer Charles Rohlfs at its estate auction scheduled 11a.m. Aug. 14 in Mountain View. A similar signed desk sold in New York last year for $179,000.

The desk includes many of the features that earned Rohlfs critical acclaim during his career, including decorative, repetative carvings across the front of the piece.

Many consider Rohlfs one of the most creative artists of the Arts & Crafts movement from 1880 to 1936.

Unlike other works from the era, Rohlfs’ pieces used carvings and ornament from other cultures and styles, including Chinese, medieval and art nouveau.

His work is more decorative than features typically associated with Arts & Crafts, but his individualistic style and use of white oak earned him recognition in the movement.

The Arts & Crafts movement began as a reaction to the ornate styles of the Victorian era and “soulless” machine-made production of the Industrial Revolution.

Natural materials, clean lines and repeated designs are typical of the style.

Rohlfs opened his first furniture company in New York in 1898.

His designs were so admired, he was made a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in London and commissioned to provide a set of chairs for Buckingham Palace.

The desk will be on display for preview 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 12 and 13 and 11a.m. Aug 14 at California’s Churchill Crocker Auctions gallery, 311 Ravendale Dr., Mountain View.

For more information, go to www.ChurchillCrocker.com.