Author Topic: Approximate age of desk?  (Read 3811 times)

keej

  • New Member
  • *
  • Posts: 5
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Approximate age of desk?
« on: October 22, 2013, 10:27:42 am »
Hi all,

I've never owned any antique furniture before, and I really don't know too much about them.  I recently purchased an antique desk off Kijiji and the piece was a family heirloom of someone unrelated to the seller, who didn't have too much information about it.  I am just really dying to know how old anyone thinks the piece is?  It's so interesting looking - we love it - would just really like to know more about it! Does anyone have any ideas?  See the photos included.

Thanks! :)

mart

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 19849
  • Karma: +122/-1
    • View Profile
Re: Approximate age of desk?
« Reply #1 on: October 22, 2013, 01:52:11 pm »
Can you possibly take a pic of the underside of the top so I can see how its constructed and if there is a style number on it ??

keej

  • New Member
  • *
  • Posts: 5
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Approximate age of desk?
« Reply #2 on: October 22, 2013, 05:33:17 pm »
Can you possibly take a pic of the underside of the top so I can see how its constructed and if there is a style number on it ??

Of course! The first two photos are of the underside of the table top and third photo is the bottom of the drawer that pulls out. As far as we can see there are no numbers anywhere.

keej

  • New Member
  • *
  • Posts: 5
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Approximate age of desk?
« Reply #3 on: October 22, 2013, 05:36:37 pm »
Can you possibly take a pic of the underside of the top so I can see how its constructed and if there is a style number on it ??

Hmm only the picture of underneath the drawer attached. Here's a photo of the underneath of the table. 

mart

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 19849
  • Karma: +122/-1
    • View Profile
Re: Approximate age of desk?
« Reply #4 on: October 22, 2013, 07:28:20 pm »
Saw a pretty new galvanized or stainless steel Phillips head screw on bottom so not very old !! I originally thought it was after mid century reproduction and that is what I am going with !!  After 1950 and more than likely about 1970 or so !! Things like this were being made by several furniture companies during this period !!  It looks like a very nice desk and probably well made !! Couldn`t see much since pics are a little large for this site and they blurred when enlarged !!

fancypants

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1959
  • Karma: +22/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Approximate age of desk?
« Reply #5 on: October 22, 2013, 08:45:34 pm »
I'm wondering if you could please provide one more photo of the joint(s) between the sides of the drawer & the front of the drawer (side view) , keej ?

Has a few indicators of having been worked on/refinished a bit , from what I think I'm seeing in the images ....
" Methinks me the 'mental' in sentimental .... "

mart

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 19849
  • Karma: +122/-1
    • View Profile
Re: Approximate age of desk?
« Reply #6 on: October 23, 2013, 06:11:54 am »
Dovetails are good idea !! Should have asked for that !!  Saw those marks too but couldn`t figure why they were running across the bottom ??

bigwull

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7620
  • Karma: +27/-3
  • lick you to death
    • View Profile
Re: Approximate age of desk?
« Reply #7 on: October 23, 2013, 06:48:28 am »
Yeah you,re right Mart...the screw looks new and its a philips....but...it s on its own..in the middle of nowhere...which tells you what?....it tells me that someone has made a repair...and never gave it a second thought when they used that screw...as its out of sight....one lonely screw does,nt make this desk young....
I make no excuses,and no apologies....but i like a good Malt,

keej

  • New Member
  • *
  • Posts: 5
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Approximate age of desk?
« Reply #8 on: October 23, 2013, 06:54:48 am »
Thanks for all your input! I'm definitely going to take and post a picture later today. Hopefully that will help solve the mystery. Thanks again!

bigwull

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7620
  • Karma: +27/-3
  • lick you to death
    • View Profile
Re: Approximate age of desk?
« Reply #9 on: October 23, 2013, 07:13:41 am »
That pic of the underside of the drawer..opens perfectly for me, with good first stage definition..then i can enlarge it..nowt wrong there...i see that the bottom of the drawer is in 2 parts...thin planks by the looks of them....which is an indicator to age in itself...had this table been made in the 70,s...then i don,t think the bottom would be 2 planks....where that philips screw is....what is it holding.....is it a drawer pull
I make no excuses,and no apologies....but i like a good Malt,

mart

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 19849
  • Karma: +122/-1
    • View Profile
Re: Approximate age of desk?
« Reply #10 on: October 23, 2013, 07:30:28 am »
Yeah you,re right Mart...the screw looks new and its a philips....but...it s on its own..in the middle of nowhere...which tells you what?....it tells me that someone has made a repair...and never gave it a second thought when they used that screw...as its out of sight....one lonely screw does,nt make this desk young....

Thought I saw more at one end but with the pics so distorted,,hard to tell !!  The whole desk just gives me a "new" feeling !! But will wait to see the next pics !!
Keej,,,Can you reduce the size of the pics to about 2000kb so the enlargments will be more clear ??

bigwull

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7620
  • Karma: +27/-3
  • lick you to death
    • View Profile
Re: Approximate age of desk?
« Reply #11 on: October 23, 2013, 07:35:18 am »
But the enlargements are clear....in fact when i open that one of the drawer...its so clear you,d think the drawer was sitting on my lap....time to clean the dust off yer cheaters.... ;D
I make no excuses,and no apologies....but i like a good Malt,

jacon4

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1807
  • Karma: +20/-0
  • collector/ student of early american furniture
    • View Profile
Re: Approximate age of desk?
« Reply #12 on: October 23, 2013, 02:20:24 pm »
 I am just really dying to know how old anyone thinks the piece is? 

It's 45 years, 2 months, 6 days, 12 hours, 43 mins and 10 seconds old EXACTLY!

Actually, i have no clue, i'd guess second half 20th century

Ipcress

  • Guest
Re: Approximate age of desk?
« Reply #13 on: October 23, 2013, 02:28:36 pm »
Yeah, i'd be surprised if it was much earlier than that.

jacon4

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1807
  • Karma: +20/-0
  • collector/ student of early american furniture
    • View Profile
Re: Approximate age of desk?
« Reply #14 on: October 24, 2013, 01:31:24 pm »
It's a center or library type table, very popular during the victorian era but, this table looks to be made well into the 20th century so vintage at best.