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Usher of the Black Rod’s Desk

This carved walnut wood desk is used by the Usher of the Black Rod in the Senate Chamber. The Usher is the Senate’s most senior protocol officer and serves as the Queen’s personal attendant and messenger in Parliament. The desk is installed along the central corridor of the Chamber, close to the entrance. 

The desk was specially designed for the Senate Chamber in Centre Block in the 1920s, as the building was rebuilt following a large fire in 1916. The building’s chief architect, John A. Pearson, designed the piece to match the formality, dignity and importance of the new Red Chamber. As a result, the desk is highly ornamental and features Neo-Gothic wood detailing on its three front panels, including the British Crown. 

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