Posted 11 years ago
sarahoff
(279 items)
Please excuse my teenagers floor:) I found this great old desk for my daughter a few years ago at a GW store up north. It was covered in stickers but i could tell it was made of nice solid wood. I've been thinking of stripping it but have been lazy about getting around to it. The inside bottom has a newer wood grain covering that needs to be removed but all the hardware looks original the inside drawers don't have evidence that the've been replaced. The drawers are dove tail ad the legs and side are made from one piece. Can any tell me what time perion this could have been made?
It looks to be red oak looking at the inside view. Something is missing, probably a shelf as there are stopped dado's on both sides. Or the shelf was removed and the cubicles added. I can't see the hinges well but they appear to be fairly modern brass or brass plated hinges. I would think it is about my age or a bit older, I would be considered vintage as opposed to antique.
Thanks for taking the time to help fhrjr2:)
I was thinking the grooves on the inside sides were to hold chains that stopped the door from opening too far.
It might well have had an articulating arm or possibly even a track and chain at some point although on a desk this size it would seem to be overkill. At some point it obviously had something attached to make it more stable. The stopped dado makes me have a bit of a question about why it is there. I have blown the picture up but can't see any signs of screw holes inside the dado are you able to see any? If so there should be probably at least four on each side.
I don't know the age of fhrjr2 but would think that this is from the middle of the 20th century (give or take a decade or so).
scott
I am seeing baby boomer furniture in my mind.
I added a few more pictures if the grove and under drawer wood I could try to post a picture of the natural grain but would have to delete a couple pics.
Your new picture tends to confirm in my mind that there was a shelf there originally. There is a rabbit joint down the back side which is empty (bottom view). There should be a corresponding rabbit joint on the front underside. That indicates the bottom was removed as there should have been a dust panel in the rabbit. The secondary wood is blurry but looks like it might be spruce. I believe someone before you refurbished this piece. It would be interesting to see this after it has been stripped. With regards to your chain to support the top, once it is stripped look for holes along the upper sides. They should have the exact same spacing as the holes in the desk top and identical imprints where the chain or arm was attached. I would see it as having been factory made sometime after WWII.
Wow fhrjr I really do appreciate your help!
Strip it carefully because you may find useful information under the paint. It isn't at all uncommon for a craftsman to mark his work with his initials or name and the date when working on a piece. Like putting a penny from the year you do the work under the threshold of the front door (always heads up). Old customs intended for good luck or to identify your work to others who may follow. If it is marked it will be on the back or underside, quite possibly done with a carpenters pencil.