Thread: 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.

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.

Thanks for the information! The glass is indeed wavy.

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

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.

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

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.

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