Help with a GUSTAVE KELLER Tambour Portable Writing Desk Wood and Silver

[micaela]

Hi, I take a portable desk make by GUSTAVE KELLER.

I need to know the use of this item.

In the circle that it has in the front it would take a clock?

Regards

[talesofthesevenseas]

No, I think this is much older than you think! You have a beautiful Tambour portable writing desk! Check this out:
 http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/tambour-portable-writing-desks/

[talesofthesevenseas]

And look here too! It shows one similar to yours. I think you will be pleased!

http://www.hygra.com/writing.html

[pantrwrstl]

that thing is awesome! I want one!

[micaela]

Hi, Any idea of the value?
Regards
Micaela

[talesofthesevenseas]

Well, yours has issues with the missing piece in the front, and that is going to make a difference in the value. What we can do is compare it to what others sold for and get a ballpark idea of the value. Remember that what it would really sell for on Ebay, at auction, in a retail setting and what you would insure it for are all different values, and none of these are exactly like yours.

Here's one selling for $6000
http://galleryaccentra.com/fielddeskdetail.htm

Here's one selling for a little less
http://www.aaawt.com/html/gallery4.html

One on Ebay for $499
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Civil-War-Era-Rosewood-Lap-Portable-Desk-w-Inlay-G-R-Cholwell-/220967407123?pt=Antiques_Decorative_Arts&hash=item3372af0e13

I think given the possible value of yours, you might want to have a hands-on appraisal done.

[KC]

Wow....you need to follow Talesof's advice and get a hands-on appraisal of this.  Think you may be pleasantly surprised!!!

Nice!

[micaela]

Hello, where I can carry out this that you/ tell me.
Micaela

[KC]

Where are you located?

I see where you inquired about this on Collectors weekly and said that you think it was made for a car. 

Portable desks were just that.  Portable...so if you went to a country house for the weekend or overseas for a few months you were able to take your writing implement with you.  During this time period, this was the means of communication. Everyone with "influence" had one.  The finer made and more intricate, the more status one felt they had!  Some were made for women that carried their toiletries as well as their writing items.