Let's Play "Antiques Road Show"

[crabcake]

I have this wonderful antique desk that I picked up a few years ago at an antique store in Delaware. I'm not sure what it's purpose/function was, but I wanna say maybe it was an accountant's desk? :shrug: It has built-in wooden file dividers in the one drawer and a writing surface that pulls out. I'm contemplating selling it, but I loved it when I got it because it was so unique. I was thinking about refinishing it, but it has so much character as it is, I decided against it.

What do you think it might be worth and do you think I should unload it?

 

[Kain99]

Whatever you do... Don't refinish it. I don't know a whole lot about antiques but I'm pretty sure refinishing destroys the value.

 

[crabcake]

Refinishing it is definately not an option! It would detract from its value far more than it would 'add' to it.

I forget what I paid for it, but I got it home, and my builder happened to be here, and on the spot, he offered me more than twice the price to take it off my hands.

 

[Dymphna]

Any labels or markings? Look on the back as well as the back and bottom of the drawers.

 

[Vince]

Real wood or veneer? If it's solid hard wood it's worth a bunch. If it's veneer, don't know, but either way don't refinish. It will definitely detract from it''s value. Use something to restore like liquid gold, but don't refinish it. Check for the makers mark. It will be stamped or etched somewhere on the piece.

 

[crabcake]

Any labels or markings? Look on the back as well as the back and bottom of the drawers.

None that I can find; I really think it might be hand-made. There are lots of little things about it that a regular furniture manufacturer wouldn't have allowed, like the natural wood 'erosion' on one of the drawer fronts. Also, the drawers aren't nailed; rather, they have that dove-tailing (I think that's what it's called).

 

[crabcake]

Real wood or veneer? If it's solid hard wood it's worth a bunch.

Solid hard wood

 

[Vince]

Dovetailing can be made with a template and router, but hand cut dovetails are rare. I have done a few pieces and hand cut the dovetails, but it's difficult. You can tell if they're hand cut if their are slight imperfections and sometimes there isn't even that. If they are unevenly spaced they may be handcut as well.

 

[Dymphna]

None that I can find; I really think it might be hand-made. There are lots of little things about it that a regular furniture manufacturer wouldn't have allowed, like the natural wood 'erosion' on one of the drawer fronts. Also, the drawers aren't nailed; rather, they have that dove-tailing (I think that's what it's called).

The damage to the drawer looks like mistreatment while in use, or maybe bug damage, hard to tell. Is the stain over top of the damage? If so, it's already been refinished at some point. The dove-tailing is a sign of good quality, not a sign of hand-made.

 

[crabcake]

Dovetailing can be made with a template and router, but hand cut dovetails are rare.

I'm not sure how to tell if they were hand-cut or not, but in eyeing them really closely, and looking at how the front of the drawer appears to have been hand-cut to fit the sides, I tend to think it just might have been done by hand. Each 'dovetail' is not identical ... some are a little bigger/smaller than others. Look at the pictures below:

 

[Vince]

I'm not sure how to tell if they were hand-cut or not, but in eyeing them really closely, and looking at how the front of the drawer appears to have been hand-cut to fit the sides, I tend to think it just might have been done by hand. Each 'dovetail' is not identical ... some are a little bigger/smaller than others. Look at the pictures below:

They look machine cut, but it's very hard to tell.

 

[crabcake]

The damage to the drawer looks like mistreatment while in use, or maybe bug damage, hard to tell. Is the stain over top of the damage? If so, it's already been refinished at some point. The dove-tailing is a sign of good quality, not a sign of hand-made.

It's hard to tell if the area on the top of that drawer is some sort of natural damage to the piece of wood that was used, or if it was a piece that just broke off at some point. It appears that the only "refinishing" that was done was to apply a coat of some kind of poly-like product to protect the wood. It doesn't look as if it's ever been sanded down and refinished to 'perfect' its appearance.

 

[crabcake]

They look machine cut, but it's very hard to tell.

They may be ... I'm not sure. :shrug:

What's interesting is that the front of the drawer is also dovetailed to attach to the sides. There are also really small holes in each corner of each dovetail ... perhaps pin prick markings from a template or other cut dovetails to marry them up or something.

 

[AMP]

From the looks of it I would say around 1920's, and parts of it may have been hand-machined, and the dovetails may have been hand cut. Hit it up with a little Orange Glo and go over it it with a dry soft cloth afterwards. No need to do much more than keep it clean and from drying out. It is a real pretty piece! Should be in a front hall or something, with one of those old fashioned double inkwell and fountain pen holders made out of iron, with the crystal things to hold the ink, and a nifty little victorian or art deco lamp to shine down on that warm wood.

 

[Dymphna]

Huntr just got home.

He says it's definately machine made and he thinks it is either mahogany or cherry, hard to tell from the pictures.

 

[crabcake]

STOP THE PRESSES!!! I just found a stamp that I'd previously overlooked on the underneath/bottom of the drawer, but it's really faded. I'm gonna see if I can work it up in photoshop to make it out.

 

[crabcake]

K, here are two pictures .... you really gotta look at 'em close to see the marking b/c it's so faded (why I missed it earlier). It appears to be a rectangular stamp of some sort, and I can make out a big "N" as the first letter. Along the bottom is something smaller that looks like it might start with "Lau".

I put it in black and white too hoping the contrast would help make it out. The "N" may be an "M" too.

 

[crabcake]

From the looks of it I would say around 1920's, and parts of it may have been hand-machined, and the dovetails may have been hand cut. Hit it up with a little Orange Glo and go over it it with a dry soft cloth afterwards. No need to do much more than keep it clean and from drying out. It is a real pretty piece! Should be in a front hall or something, with one of those old fashioned double inkwell and fountain pen holders made out of iron, with the crystal things to hold the ink, and a nifty little victorian or art deco lamp to shine down on that warm wood.

That's exactly why I fell in love with it. It was so "old world" like ... and I envisioned the same things sitting on it when I got it. Then, reality set it, and I started setting my 10oz beer can on it while surfing the damn forum.

Huntr just got home.

He says it's definately machine made and he thinks it is either mahogany or cherry, hard to tell from the pictures.

Is that good ... bad ... I never paid much attention to particular types of wood when I've bought things ... I see it, I like it, I buy it.

Anyone have an idea of what something like this may be worth to a collector? :shrug:

 

[JabbaJawz]

K, here are two pictures .... you really gotta look at 'em close to see the marking b/c it's so faded (why I missed it earlier). It appears to be a rectangular stamp of some sort, and I can make out a big "N" as the first letter. Along the bottom is something smaller that looks like it might start with "Lau".

I put it in black and white too hoping the contrast would help make it out. The "N" may be an "M" too.

I don't see crap in those pictures?

 

[crabcake]

I don't see crap in those pictures?

It's very faint ... you can see a pencil mark in the color picture in the top left area ... just "southeast" of that is the faded/faint rectangular stamp of some sort.