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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: micaela on March 08, 2012, 02:34:41 PM

Title: Help with a GUSTAVE KELLER Tambour Portable Writing Desk Wood and Silver
Post by: micaela on March 08, 2012, 02:34:41 PM

Hi, I take a portable desk make by GUSTAVE KELLER.

I need to know the use of this item.

In the circle that it has in the front it would take a clock?

Regards


(http://www.collectorsweekly.com/assets/stories/u1mW8HVA7EoNswQq7BuLpw.jpg)
(http://www.collectorsweekly.com/assets/stories/rl6388YNCB8Sh-djpKbMMw.jpg)
(http://www.collectorsweekly.com/assets/stories/ILzGtEVBF5aENXz4LvfIGA.jpg)
(http://www.collectorsweekly.com/assets/stories/W-wgBObugAJjKSEwGGaJZQ.jpg)

Title: Re: Help with a GUSTAVE KELLER portable desk for a car?
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on March 08, 2012, 04:23:22 PM

No, I think this is much older than you think! You have a beautiful Tambour portable writing desk! Check this out:
 http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/tambour-portable-writing-desks/ (http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/tambour-portable-writing-desks/)

Title: Re: Help with a GUSTAVE KELLER portable desk for a car?
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on March 08, 2012, 04:29:23 PM

And look here too! It shows one similar to yours. I think you will be pleased!

http://www.hygra.com/writing.html (http://www.hygra.com/writing.html)

Title: Re: Help with a GUSTAVE KELLER portable desk for a car?
Post by: pantrwrstl on March 08, 2012, 10:01:18 PM

that thing is awesome! I want one!

Title: Re: Help with a GUSTAVE KELLER portable desk for a car?
Post by: micaela on March 08, 2012, 10:29:11 PM

Hi, Any idea of the value?
Regards
Micaela

Title: Re: Help with a GUSTAVE KELLER Tambour Portable Writing Desk Wood and Silver
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on March 09, 2012, 04:42:03 PM

Well, yours has issues with the missing piece in the front, and that is going to make a difference in the value. What we can do is compare it to what others sold for and get a ballpark idea of the value. Remember that what it would really sell for on Ebay, at auction, in a retail setting and what you would insure it for are all different values, and none of these are exactly like yours.

Here's one selling for $6000
http://galleryaccentra.com/fielddeskdetail.htm (http://galleryaccentra.com/fielddeskdetail.htm)

Here's one selling for a little less
http://www.aaawt.com/html/gallery4.html (http://www.aaawt.com/html/gallery4.html)

One on Ebay for $499
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Civil-War-Era-Rosewood-Lap-Portable-Desk-w-Inlay-G-R-Cholwell-/220967407123?pt=Antiques_Decorative_Arts&hash=item3372af0e13 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Civil-War-Era-Rosewood-Lap-Portable-Desk-w-Inlay-G-R-Cholwell-/220967407123?pt=Antiques_Decorative_Arts&hash=item3372af0e13)

I think given the possible value of yours, you might want to have a hands-on appraisal done.

Title: Re: Help with a GUSTAVE KELLER Tambour Portable Writing Desk Wood and Silver
Post by: KC on March 09, 2012, 07:48:05 PM

Wow....you need to follow Talesof's advice and get a hands-on appraisal of this.  Think you may be pleasantly surprised!!!

Nice!

Title: Re: Help with a GUSTAVE KELLER Tambour Portable Writing Desk Wood and Silver
Post by: micaela on March 10, 2012, 09:37:22 AM

Hello, where I can carry out this that you/ tell me.
Micaela

Title: Re: Help with a GUSTAVE KELLER Tambour Portable Writing Desk Wood and Silver
Post by: KC on March 10, 2012, 12:07:49 PM

Where are you located?

I see where you inquired about this on Collectors weekly and said that you think it was made for a car. 

Portable desks were just that.  Portable...so if you went to a country house for the weekend or overseas for a few months you were able to take your writing implement with you.  During this time period, this was the means of communication. Everyone with "influence" had one.  The finer made and more intricate, the more status one felt they had!  Some were made for women that carried their toiletries as well as their writing items.