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Antiques & Collectibles

Antique Desk - Need help identifying

13 years ago

I purchased this antique desk about a year ago to use for my antique pocketwatch and fan restoration projects.

Can someone help identify the style, approximate age and reason for the marble inlay (replaceable) on the top surface. Currently, I have left the 2 white marble pieces, but I was told that I can simply pop out and replace with any tiles as needed.

The drawers are heavy and dovetailed not just box jointed.

I am more interested in learning the style and approximate age as I am sure that this is not a rare nor overly expensive piece.

Please let me know what you can & thanks so much!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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Comments (8)

lindac
13 years ago
It's not an antique, the dove tails are machine made. I believe it's from maybe 1960 to perhaps 1980, French Provincial in style, and I believe it's a dressing table rather than a desk. The marble is there to provide a relativly carefree work surface for my lady's lotions and potions.
Hope this helps.
Linda C
saintroad
Original Author
13 years ago
Linda,
Thank you. Very informative and appreciated. It does function perfectly for my work desk, in any case. I personally don't find it to be feminine at all in style, finish or size.

Thanks again for the insight.
Cheers,
Andy
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I think that the nails we see are not original, but were part of a patch-up made after this piece had aged. The drawers may have been glued together, and then came apart. The owner resorted to nailing to keep it together. Look at the 11th photo. Toe nailing was done with nails that were much too long and the nails protrude by a large amount. This is sloppy patching, but typical of someone using whatever he has in his nail bin. In earlier photos of the drawers, the nails are not evenly spaced indicating these were placed by eye, and not measured.
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Looks like a very nice piece. I would have guessed maple but I'm not a pro. Could you try taking pics without the flash in natural light so that the grain is easier to see? ETA: There's also an Antiques and Collectibles forum - consider cross-posting to that forum.
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palimpsest
13 years ago
I agree that it appears to be mid-century french provincial. Are there any marks or stencils on the back?

It reminds me a bit of a hospitality piece; a combination desk and dresser that would have been put in a nicer hotel in the 1950s-60s with a durable surface at the seating area.
lindac
13 years ago
Ooh....it does look a little "Ramada-ish" doesn't it...or perhaps Hilton...
palimpsest
13 years ago
That's not a bad thing though, it's usually sturdy and well made.
maddielee
13 years ago
Those look like Emerson fans you have there. Am I correct? My grandfather worked for Emerson (St. Louis) years ago. the fans that were handed down in our family still work beautifully....

ML
sunnyca_gw
13 years ago
Hardware is very similar to my 1964 stereo unit I still use. It's Fr. Provincial too. I have 1 of the old fans & an old heater that has fan to blow air out. They work great & so much less wattage than anything now-a-days!Desk? will serve you well.
saintroad
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks for all of the dialogue and insight. I bought this desk for $100. I find it to be perfect size for my repair and restoration work, both for pocket watches and antique fans.
I find that it has an interesting vintage feel to it while at the same time quite roomy and functional for my needs.

The fans : Actually, there are no Emerson fans in that photo (amazing since Emersons are indeed my favorite!)
The one on the desk is a GE Whiz that I restored this past weekend. The ones on the ground are a large R&M and a couple more GEs. (See my link below for my personal blog to see some of these fan restorations)

Thanks again for the info on the desk. Heck for $100, I cannot even hardly get some Sauder junk from Target. I think it has worked out very well.

Cheers.

Here is a link that might be useful: GE Whiz Fan Restoration

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