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Thread: Antique Secretary Desk

  1. #1
    ewindes Guest

    Default Antique Secretary Desk

    Can anyone help identify the age and style of this secretary? It was passed down from my great-grandparents, but I don't know the history before that.

    I believe it's old. The back is tongue and groove boards, the dovetails are handmade, and the drawer bottoms are chamfered.

    I've never seen a secretary where only the central portion flips down for a writing surface, with doors on either side.

    I think the drawer pulls have been replaced, there is a single unused hole behind each one. The finish on the inside of the doors is different than the outside.
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    Last edited by ewindes; 05-31-2016 at 07:14 PM. Reason: typos!

  2. #2
    Join Date
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    Default Re: Antique Secretary Desk

    I have not seen that particular form before, but Secretary Desks did come in all shapes and sizes. Those are classic hand-cut dovetails and the glass appears to be hand-blown, not factory made. Appears to be English rather than American. My guess is mid-1800's, but I am not an expert.
    Duane Collie
    Straight answers from thirty-six years in the business.
    My Private Messages are Disabled - Please ask questions here in the forum.

  3. #3
    ewindes Guest

    Default Re: Antique Secretary Desk

    Thanks for the information! The glass is indeed wavy.

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Antique Secretary Desk

    ewindes,

    How interesting! I'm going with Duane's age guess. It's definitely old and hand made. Does it still feel solid? What a wonderful family piece.

    TXCajun

  5. #5
    ewindes Guest

    Default Re: Antique Secretary Desk

    It's very solid. There are quite a few nicks and bangs, especially around the bottom. I wonder if the dark finish is original, since the inside of the doors is so much lighter, and because there seems to be some drips around the edges.

  6. #6
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    Default Re: Antique Secretary Desk

    ewindes,

    Going by photos makes it impossible (for me) to determine anything about the finish. I can tell you that I have seen many, many antique pieces having contrasting interior and exterior colors/finishes. I don't know that it necessarily means anything was refinished, but it certainly could. So, I guess, basically, I'm of no help at all. On the upside: You have a beautiful and meaningful antique!

    TXCajun

  7. #7
    Join Date
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    Default Re: Antique Secretary Desk

    Outsides are always different colors from the insides, due to sun and environmental exposures over a few hundred years, and the outside was probably routinely waxed. That's one way to tell a genuine antique, you expect to see that color variance.
    Duane Collie
    Straight answers from thirty-six years in the business.
    My Private Messages are Disabled - Please ask questions here in the forum.

  8. #8
    Syedzuhair Guest

    Default Re: Antique Secretary Desk

    Hi..i am associated with Carpenter business & It might be a 85 years old i think (1930's)

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