Look at the wood. Many secretary desks from the 1700s and 1800s feature exotic woods like rosewood, tulipwood, and kingwood.
Examine the construction.
Look for a manufacturer mark or label.
How heavy is an oak desk?They usually do not have drawers, or if they do, only one or two small ones. These types of desks can be anywhere from 50-100 pounds. An average office style desk, however, that comes with file cabinet drawers or matching hutch, can be between 115-200 pounds.
What are those old desks called?Antique Secretary Desks
The antique secretary desk has a history dating back to the seventeenth century. It originated within the French escritoire, or “small writing desk” that featured a surface that either pulled out or folded down to create a larger expanse for writing.
What were old desks made of?In fact, a Bible box—a plain wooden container with a flat or slanted lid, which held the Bible and important papers—was the earliest desk.
How do I find a vintage desk? – Additional Questions
How do I know if my desk is an antique?
Look carefully at the bottom, sides, and back of the drawer; if the wood shows nicks or cuts, it was probably cut with a plane, a spokeshave, or a drawknife. Straight saw marks also indicate an old piece. If the wood shows circular or arc-shaped marks, it was cut by a circular saw, not in use until about 1860.
How do you date antique furniture by foot?
Another way for how to date antique furniture by feet is comparing it to other pieces you already know the time period of. By evaluating the condition, or identifying the use of similar materials, shapes, patterns and production techniques, the trained eye can work out how to date antique furniture by the feet.
When was the first desk made?
Desks first appear in the late 17th century (the 1600’s) as bureaus, i.e. a sloping front desk in which the writing surface can be opened and closed. They were an adaptation of the chest of drawers onto which the writing slope was fitted.
Why is it called a secretary desk?
Taking its name from the French word for the piece, secrétaire, the secretary desk dates back to the 18th century, when Paris-based cabinetmaker Jean-François Oeben, known for his exquisite marquetry and clever mechanical desks, is thought to have invented the secrétaire à abbattant, or drop-leaf desk.
Where did desks come from?
The first desks were probably designed for ecclesiastical use. Early English desks derived from the church lectern were massive; after the development of printing, they gave way to smaller, portable chests with sloping lids—called writing boxes—some of which featured drawers and letter holes.
Why is furniture called a secretary?
The secretary (from secretarius, Latin for writer) evolved as a larger and more formal piece of furniture to store books and papers.
How can you tell a real Davenport desk?
There is generally a row of drawers down one side, with false drawers on the opposing side, and the top is surmounted by a brass or fretwork gallery. Made to be freestanding, davenports are finished and polished on all four sides.
What era are secretary desks from?
The secretary’s provenance is likely to have been French, appearing in the first half of the 1800s in France as an offshoot of the plainer escritoire, or writing desk. Traditionally made from wood and often ornate, a secretary may also feature various metals, such as gilded accents, and inlays.
What is a Wooton desk worth?
“The Wooton desk, for anybody collecting late 19th century furniture, this is one of the ultimate pieces you would have.” Melchert asked for $14,500 and ultimately got pretty close to that with a final accepted offer of $13,500.
How do I identify a Wooton desk?
A brass handle and brass plaques, including one proudly proclaiming Wooton’s name and the desk patent date, decorated the doors. Each desk consisted of three parts: the central portion, with a drop writing board, and two paneled doors that swung out on brass hinges.
What was the gun desk used for?
Facts. Fact 1: Gun desks were popular among mines, railroads, and other white collar industries where cash payrolls were common, and thus vulnerable to robbery. Fact 2: This desk is operated by pushing down on the inkwell, which is connected to a . 22 short gun mounted into the desk.
Does Pawn Stars ever sell anything?
This may come as a major shock to most viewers, but the Pawn Stars don’t actually deal in antiques. Well, that’s not entirely true— they buy and sell small antique knick-knacks all the time— but, according to their website, they won’t purchase antique furniture.
Where do Pawn Stars sell their stuff?
Gold & Silver Pawn: Pawn Stars
The guys from the Gold and Silver Pawn on Las Vegas Boulevard have started selling items they’ve bought on the show through the website HipSwap.com.
What year did Pawn Stars come out?
The series, which became the network’s highest rated show and the No. 2 reality show behind Jersey Shore, debuted on July 26, 2009.
Why was Pawn Stars Cancelled?
In March 2020, and during the filming of the 17th season, the Pawn Stars crew was forced to pull the plug on production as it was deemed non-essential work during the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result, the certainty of a lot of jobs was up in the air, and no one knew exactly when normality would return.
