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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: niemanda on December 02, 2014, 10:01:47 AM
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Hi All :) I'm looking for help in figuring out what the origins are of a huge, incredibly heavy desk/table I have found sitting out in a barn at the place I've just moved to. I know absolutely nothing about it, and I'm really curious as to its history and value- it's an amazing looking thing, and looks like it would be more at home in Chatsworth House than a farm barn!
It stands 180cm long x 78 cm high x 95 cm wide, and I guess it's made of some kind of solid wood with walnut veneering... It is definitely solid wood, as it's very, VERY heavy! It's a bit of a mystery as it has locking drawers which don't have any handles (or any sign that handles were ever present), and rounded corners (including drawers on the sides). It has ball and claw feet.
I'm attaching some photos. Anyone any ideas?
Thanks in advance!
Niemanda
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Yes I have an idea,,put my name and address on it and send it to me !! That's a beauty of a desk !! I take it you are in the UK ?? Can you take a close up pic of the front and one looking straight down on the top please ?? And if possible one of the dovetail joints on the drawer front !!
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Oh my...that is a beauty!!!!
Please take more pictures of it....
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Yes I have an idea,,put my name and address on it and send it to me !!
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Yes, I'm in the UK... and I'm still none the wiser re this intriguing piece of furtniture... I will post some more pics, but can't indulge re the dovetail joints yet as I'm yet to find keys to get into the drawers...! (I'm looking, though!!)
Niemanda x
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Here's a few more -
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WOW, ....... and a burl Walnut top ta boot.
To me, the "no handle" drawers infers it is an "office desk".
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My first impression was a variation of a piano desk. Would love to see it open!
I know Cogar. That burled top is breathtaking!
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Breathtaking is right !! Ok,,gotta go wipe my mouth off,,drool isn`t becoming !!
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I have found sitting out in a barn at the place I've just moved to.
So, I'm curious, are you claiming ownership or what? ??? ???
A locksmith should be able to open it in a few minutes ..... and then make you a new key for it.
There's undoubtedly a good provenance for it, …. me thinks. ;D
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I have found sitting out in a barn at the place I've just moved to.
So, I'm curious, are you claiming ownership or what? Huh Huh
Unless its a rental,, I would sure claim it !!
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Cogar,,enlarge that pic of the top and see if anything strikes you as odd about it !!
And to answer the original question,, it is a Thomas Chippendale revival desk from first quarter of the 20th century most likely !! Seeing the dovetails may change that date to a later time period !! Often called a partners desk !!
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Hmmmm, are you sure Mart? Can't wait to see it open!
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Cogar,,enlarge that pic of the top and see if anything strikes you as odd about it !!
OH my, my, my goodness, .... Mart. ::) ::) ::)
That sucker looks to me to be double "bookmarked" in three directions.
Or are my eyes deceiving me? ;D ;D
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Don`t think there is a problem with your eyes !! I thought there might be a problem with mine !! Glad you see the same thing !! When I first looked at it closely I said "no way" that it was almost a photographic repetition !! I would love to see the top in person !!
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HA, .... no need to see it in person. That top is "wallpapered" (repeative pattern).
But it is still a beauty, ..... but very new, .... piece of furniture.
Like Yogi Bear would say, .... "Ya gotta look before ya can see". ;) ;)
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Every time I look at it,, more questions pop up !! Are those key holes over the legs ??
At this point KC, I am not sure about anything !!
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I would love to see a picture of the underside of it!
I'm a thinkin' it is a table with drawer. Have seen these made to hold flatware, etc.
Every time I look at the closeup of that pattern I see different figures/faces/etc. LOL
It just looks "too" perfect to be a true cut. (Does look wallpapered Cogar.) And if it is...wowsa'!
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(Does look wallpapered Cogar.) And if it is...wowsa'!
KC, I just called it "wallpapered" because of the duplicated conjoined patterns.
In actuality .... I'm pretty sure it is .... (large format) computer generated (and printed) "grain painting".
Iffen they can "print" this in the icing on a cake .....
(http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/uimages/unplggd/081208_sz_cake.jpg)
They can just as easily "grain paint" a table top. ;D ;D ;D
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If not one of those, that's one heck of a job of bookmatching !!
Hey,, does anyone remember the table (I think it was a table) we had a while back that had the same sort of top ?? The one we saw the faces and figures on ?? It was done in almost the same manner as this !!
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enlarge that pic of the top and see if anything strikes you as odd about it !!
I was thinking the same thing as soon as I looked at the pictures. It doesn't look "right" at all to me. The grain it self seems "blotchy" to me. Maybe it's just the pictures I don't know. Also the fact that I see NO seams at all in the veneer!
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And ps: here is a "link" I just found ..... that tell you how to "print on wood" using your own computer and printer.
http://lifehacker.com/four-uses-for-your-printer-that-dont-involve-paper-1611979737 (http://lifehacker.com/four-uses-for-your-printer-that-dont-involve-paper-1611979737)
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Thanks for all the input, people :)
I'm not claiming ownership, just trying to figure out what it is and whether it has any value... I find this piece particularly intriguing, somehow...
It sounds like you all think its a reproduction rather than an antique, and since you mentioned seeing the underneath I've had a look and it looks 'machined' rather than put together by hand to me, so I'm thinking you're correct... And yes, I definitely see a repeating pattern on the top there...
The owner of the barn (and the rest of the land and property I'm managing) doesn't seem to know much about it. I spoke to him yesterday, and he thinks (!) he has keys for it "somewhere", and "thinks" that his brother MAY have brought it back from Europe a few years ago... but they don't speak to each other any more (!), so he can't say for sure... Supporting this 'brought back from Europe' hypothesis are holes drilled underneath which may have been made by customs officials (!), due to one of the keys being absent, he says...
(It's THAT kind of a place - two of the barns are full of things like this (hidden amongst vast piles of junk) which I have no clue about, but he's told me that if I can get a decent price for any of it to go ahead and feel free to sell stuff, OR use it in the house here...)
Again, thanks for your detective work! And yes, those ARE drawers with keyholes over the legs...
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(It's THAT kind of a place - two of the barns are full of things like this (hidden amongst vast piles of junk)
Oh my goodness, ..... you shouldn't have told us that.
Why some of us won't be able to sleep tonight. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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I was pretty sure it was a 20th century reproduction but only having pics to go by,,hated to say for sure that it was !! At any rate It could be used as KC said as a table or as a desk so it should be easy to sell as well as being a period design !!I would say a conservative estimate in the UK would be between $500. and $750. USD !! Would be at least that much here if not more if in excellent condition !! Hope he finds those keys !!
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I would love to have 2 barns of stuff to crawl through and drool over! :) Sleepless night a coming....
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I would love to have 2 barns of stuff to crawl through and drool over! :) Sleepless night a coming....
Especially if they are full of things like this desk/table !!
Wonder if she needs some help !!