Author Topic: Small secretary, possibly late 1800's.  (Read 3939 times)

TNJChris

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 51
  • Karma: +2/-0
    • View Profile
Small secretary, possibly late 1800's.
« on: August 07, 2014, 08:41:30 am »
Hey all, I was hoping to find out more about a Secretary I have from the late 1800's. It has Knapp joints so from what I have researched it would have been made between 1871-1900. It separates into 3 pieces. The top and bottom cabinets, and the crown. It's also, not a very large piece. Maybe 50" high. It has 2 pretty cool locks on it as well.

What I would like to know is would it be considered Renaissance Revival or Eastlake? I was leaning to Renaissance Revival because of the knights featured on the hardware. However, I have been known to be completely off. :)

Thanks!


TNJChris

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 51
  • Karma: +2/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Small secretary, possibly late 1800's.
« Reply #1 on: August 07, 2014, 08:43:43 am »
More photos...

jacon4

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1807
  • Karma: +20/-0
  • collector/ student of early american furniture
    • View Profile
Re: Small secretary, possibly late 1800's.
« Reply #2 on: August 07, 2014, 08:48:27 am »
Eastlake, because of the incised vertical/ horizontal lines
« Last Edit: August 07, 2014, 09:11:10 am by jacon4 »

TNJChris

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 51
  • Karma: +2/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Small secretary, possibly late 1800's.
« Reply #3 on: August 07, 2014, 09:03:33 am »
Is it a walnut veneer?

Is there anyway to determine the date it was made?

jacon4

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1807
  • Karma: +20/-0
  • collector/ student of early american furniture
    • View Profile
Re: Small secretary, possibly late 1800's.
« Reply #4 on: August 07, 2014, 09:07:14 am »
Looks to be solid walnut with walnut burl veneer drawer fronts/ panels. I would date it 1880-1890

mart

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 19849
  • Karma: +122/-1
    • View Profile
Re: Small secretary, possibly late 1800's.
« Reply #5 on: August 07, 2014, 09:07:45 am »
That would also be my opinion !!  Since styles lasted over a period of 20 or more years,, close date is about all you can hope for unless it is written on the piece !!  And that doesn`t happen often !!

TNJChris

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 51
  • Karma: +2/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Small secretary, possibly late 1800's.
« Reply #6 on: August 07, 2014, 11:07:33 am »
Thanks! Any idea about a price range?

mart

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 19849
  • Karma: +122/-1
    • View Profile
Re: Small secretary, possibly late 1800's.
« Reply #7 on: August 07, 2014, 11:14:46 am »
Sadly the Eastlake style and because it is a secretary (they are not used much anymore) do not bring much !!  I would say yours would be around $200. to $250. depending on condition !!

jacon4

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1807
  • Karma: +20/-0
  • collector/ student of early american furniture
    • View Profile
Re: Small secretary, possibly late 1800's.
« Reply #8 on: August 09, 2014, 04:12:40 am »
 It's also, not a very large piece. Maybe 50" high.

That helps it, could be a lady's desk, the smaller the better for sales. Mart would know value of this era better than i would but, desks in general are going for a song at auction as they don't fit modern requirements for desks (think puters) you can get a period 18th century slant front desk in good condition for 1k or less these days. Yours still has the gallery on top and that helps it to as they were often lost over the years.
« Last Edit: August 09, 2014, 04:15:16 am by jacon4 »

mart

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 19849
  • Karma: +122/-1
    • View Profile
Re: Small secretary, possibly late 1800's.
« Reply #9 on: August 09, 2014, 06:05:35 am »
Its difficult to sell any kind of desk these days simply because people do not use them !!

jacon4

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1807
  • Karma: +20/-0
  • collector/ student of early american furniture
    • View Profile
Re: Small secretary, possibly late 1800's.
« Reply #10 on: August 09, 2014, 06:13:41 am »
They use computer desks! am posting this from one on my desk top!

frogpatch

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1620
  • Karma: +23/-0
    • View Profile
    • Gary Cunnane
Re: Small secretary, possibly late 1800's.
« Reply #11 on: August 10, 2014, 01:08:05 pm »
These sell for around 350.00 -500.00 here. They use them as bars. I had one very similar to that one when I was younger. You have me a flash back. Late 1800s is right.

jacon4

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1807
  • Karma: +20/-0
  • collector/ student of early american furniture
    • View Profile
Re: Small secretary, possibly late 1800's.
« Reply #12 on: August 16, 2014, 04:06:50 am »
Naturally, there are exceptions to the antique desk rule, here is a pic of probably the most famous american desk known, found in Brooklyn NY, C 1690-1720

mart

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 19849
  • Karma: +122/-1
    • View Profile
Re: Small secretary, possibly late 1800's.
« Reply #13 on: August 16, 2014, 04:20:36 am »
Good morning Jacon4,,you are up early  !!  Do not think I would attempt a value on that one !!  Out of my league !!

jacon4

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1807
  • Karma: +20/-0
  • collector/ student of early american furniture
    • View Profile
Re: Small secretary, possibly late 1800's.
« Reply #14 on: August 16, 2014, 04:28:10 am »
Hey Mart, yep, is always up early. Let's not forget the most expensive desk/bookcase, 12 million, a record for any single piece of american furniture. Built by goddard/townsend in Newport C 1760-70