Author Topic: Karpen Secretary Desk  (Read 8477 times)

ghopper1924

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Re: Karpen Secretary Desk
« Reply #15 on: September 24, 2012, 01:45:25 pm »
It simply does not look like karpen....not even close. It's like the label was taken from somewhere else.
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KC

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Re: Karpen Secretary Desk
« Reply #16 on: September 24, 2012, 04:07:06 pm »
I think so as well ghopper1924....
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mart

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Re: Karpen Secretary Desk
« Reply #17 on: September 24, 2012, 04:12:43 pm »
I am waiting to see the back !!

KC

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Re: Karpen Secretary Desk
« Reply #18 on: September 24, 2012, 05:22:30 pm »
What back?  LOL
I'm from the South - but please don't mistake my Southern Manners/Accent/Charm as a weakness!

mart

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Re: Karpen Secretary Desk
« Reply #19 on: September 24, 2012, 05:25:00 pm »
As in turn it around so we can see whats missing !!

greenacres

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Re: Karpen Secretary Desk
« Reply #20 on: September 24, 2012, 06:15:57 pm »
mart, make the picture bigger. If you look up close the fromt top and door are different color wood. Maybe they were open shelves oringinaly and then the door front was added.
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mart

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Re: Karpen Secretary Desk
« Reply #21 on: September 24, 2012, 06:56:48 pm »
Don`t think so !! All the fronts are bookmatched !! Door too !! Notice how each pattern of the wood meets in the center !! Each side is identical !! Or looks so from what I can see !!  Thats a good sign of quality furniture but I don`t think its Karpen either !!

KC

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Re: Karpen Secretary Desk
« Reply #22 on: September 24, 2012, 10:27:08 pm »
I also think the front looks original
I'm from the South - but please don't mistake my Southern Manners/Accent/Charm as a weakness!

mart

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Re: Karpen Secretary Desk
« Reply #23 on: September 25, 2012, 07:58:09 am »
Like you KC, I think this is either French Or English !!

mart

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Re: Karpen Secretary Desk
« Reply #24 on: September 26, 2012, 06:05:22 am »
Also please take a pic of the dovetails on one of the drawers maybe we can get a timeline !! Even though this is out of Karpens norm it looks like the tag is original and has not been moved or added later !!

ghopper1924

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Re: Karpen Secretary Desk
« Reply #25 on: September 26, 2012, 07:13:41 am »
From my research it looks like Karpen Bros. was in business until 1953. The Karpen we all know and love typically dates from the 1880s through 1910 or so. If this is Karpen it is definitely later, ca. 1920s at least. The incised ornament in the styles would be consistent with that. Although the bookmatched burl is definitely conservative, the simplified nature of the other ornament would fit with a 1920s and later date.

So if the Karpen lable has never been moved, and the family operated out of Chicago (and other cities at a later date, as indicated by the label) then this is definitely American, albeit from a family of Prussian/Polish immigrants that came to the U.S. in the late 19th century.
« Last Edit: September 26, 2012, 08:11:15 am by ghopper1924 »
"I collect antiques because they're beautiful."

-Broderick Crawford

Rauville

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Re: Karpen Secretary Desk
« Reply #26 on: September 26, 2012, 07:35:45 am »
Dedie;
Try forwarding your photos / information here:
http://www.skarpenfurniture.com/events.htm
Let us know what you hear.

Dedie

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Re: Karpen Secretary Desk
« Reply #27 on: September 26, 2012, 06:53:58 pm »
Dedie;
Try forwarding your photos / information here:
http://www.skarpenfurniture.com/events.htm
Let us know what you hear.


This is what she said: "Your desk dates from about 1924 to 1933."

greenacres

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Re: Karpen Secretary Desk
« Reply #28 on: September 26, 2012, 06:55:28 pm »
From the nail marks on the back it looks like there was a back at one time.
" Energy and Persistence conquer all things."

mart

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Re: Karpen Secretary Desk
« Reply #29 on: September 26, 2012, 06:59:10 pm »
I think she said earlier that the back had been removed but she had it !!  That answers one question !!  Just gave you those years,, thats all ??  Bummer !!!