19th Century Business Man's desk

[Hoosier2]

Can anyone tell me what type of desk this is called see the attached pictures?  It is from 1876 dated and signed by the cabinet maker, listing his price, and the man who the desk was made for on the bottom of a drawer. The first owner was a local minor politician and disabled civil war veteran. The desk is 6 ft wide, 38 inches deep, and 67 inches high.  It come in two pieces with the bottom piece having a sloped writing surface covered in felt and the second piece is one piece with two cabinets for filing papers.  The piece is finished on all four sides and made of hardwoods other than oak.  I would like to know more about these desks and an estimate of its value or how I could get a value.  It is hard to move around.

[railman44]

Is that a picture of the entire desk?  It looks awfully pristine and newish.   

[D&b antiques]

Agree with railman. would like too see further photos. side view detail of drawer construction etc.

[sapphire]

Is it possible this was refinished?  If you zoom in the two upper drawers there are two screw holes to either side of the knobs indicating a change in hardware, at least on those.  The interior of the doors also look very rough compared to the finish on the exterior of the desk.... noticeable screws, crack and wear marks.

[D&b antiques]

 :)Agreed Sapphire. almost certain some  major refinishing was done. interested in why the doors were not done?

[sapphire]

Wouldn't the doors 'normally' be a solid piece?  Face lift perhaps?

[D&b antiques]

Well the door's seem to fit very well. the desk has some tambour styling. but ''IF'' the door's are original to the desk. what we have here is known as a swinging door desk.

which would be of the period. the doors were meant to swing back when lighting in the room was poor. and the cabinet makers name may be traceable

[KC]

Beat me to it D&b.....  Hope the poster comes back with more information!

[Hoosier2]

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions.  I have attached four more pictures one of the side, the drawer, maker's writing and one of the front.  This is my first time on this site.  As far as I know, the desk has not been refinished at least not since it came into my Dad's home 32 years ago.  The room had a lot of lights on when we took the pictures making the finish look new. There are some repairs and modest modifications.  I replaced the green felt which was an earlier replacement. The desk top appears it was designed for replacing the felt on a regular basis.  My father remembers a professor who had the desk back in the 1930's when my Dad attended Indiana University.  I remember it in my uncle's business office and in his home up to 1977.  It is a family heirloom and I am not interested in selling it.  I did a websearch and could not find out anything about the cabinet maker who I believe was just an individual and not a company.  I did find information on the original owner from an 1884 history on Monroe County, Indiana on the web. This is the same county as the professor and my uncle lived in when it was in their possesions.   I saw a number of these types of desks all varied in some way in the old Illinois State Capitol Building which was restored to the 1860s.  This desk was made in 1876 per the information on the bottom of the small very top right hand drawer.  The drawers are dovetailed.

[ironlord1963]

Impressive Wow, love that desk, looks good with those decoys and that lamp, Nice Acessories to the desk.  Maybe you could show off the decoys, those look old and are highly collected.

[regularjoe2]

Welcome to the forum , Hoosier2 .

Nice desk with hand cut dovetails .

I'm curious if you've full checked out (measured) your cabinet for a hidden compartment ( a semi-common feature in some hand-made cabinetry of the era ) ?

Looks like a keeper to me .

[talesofthesevenseas]

Way cool, love the signature too!

[railman44]

Well, I would say at least the green felt is not original.  If it is, nobody has ever used that desk for it's original purpose.  That old, it would have some ink stains on the felt and normal usuage small rips and tears.  It's a neat design and was probably totally refinished somewhere back it's history.  My .02 pesos.

[D&b antiques]

If I'am seeing, this correctly. the interior door finish. ( Upper doors) do not match the the exterior finish. which would mean it has been refinished. the felt would have been a leather insert.

Regardless. it's and easy. $1,200.00 Dollars

[KC]

Beautiful desk/cabinet.  Agree with railman and D&b.

Did you ever check for a hidden compartment?