As a person who has been dealing in antiques for a long time, I use various techniques that retain the original patina of the piece. I use a high quality furniture restorer which is applied with 2/0 steel wool. Some time ago I aquired a secretary that had a checkered black finish. By using a restorer, I uncovered a beautiful mahognany finish. The case is solid and the curved drawers are vaneer. After completly finishing the piece, I hand rubbed on three coats of Old Masters tung oil varnish. The piece looks like it probably looked originally with the patina intact. Now, this is not an antique but holds a place in our dining room where my wife stores linens I also have a solid cherry drop leaf from 1825 that has never been touched except with a furniture cream of my own making that cleaned the piece from the dirt it had collected in the barn where I founnd it. I also have several pieces of American oak from the turn of the century that have been cleaned in a similar manner. Whether I am dealing with vintage pieces or antiques, to me it's all about retaining the original patina of the pieces.

You can post a picture directly from your photobucket account by copying the tag and pasting it into the body of the email. Or you can check the box that says to allow viewing without signing in... But as you have set it up, your pictures are not viewable unless I sign up and give them my email, which I won't do. Linda C

Actually, Linda I made a discovery that I did not see before or get in the pictures. There is a bit of missing veneer and directly adjacent it looks a bit loose on the left side top surface. I shall have to find out how to repair that before refinishing methinks. Definitely a little more than a foot in my estimation, Karin. But I don't guess that would stop someone from sticking a mirror up there and using it as a vanity. lol

Thank you all for responding! I emailed a professional and he gave me some history on it. Very interesting. He said it is definitely from 1900-1920's. It is a Spinet desk and more decorative than most. There used to be a lid which is now missing. =( My dad said he let my uncle borrow the desk and upon it's return the lid was gone. He is still mad about it. Now that I am researching them, it appears that was one of major appeals to the desk. The history of these desks is that in the late 1800's Spinet used to make pianos and when the piano stopped working, people converted these into desks. So during the depression era the appeal was strong and desks were made. I do not think I am going to paint it now since I have learned the history. The professional I spoke with told me it will be a big task refinishing this desk. He gave me tips on how to do it myself. I am a bit concerned but I think I may give it a try. I do not have the funds to hire a professional since the cost of this restore would run between 400-1200 dollars! He told me fully restored the desk is valued around 450. As is, 50 - 100 dollars. After so many years it is cool to find out the history of this piece.