Posted 9 years ago
Lark131
(1 item)
I've owned this sweet children's desk from about 1969. My parents found it in an antique store located in Seekonk, MA, that displayed quite a bit of its products outdoors from what we recall. My dad had told me that it was removed from a school that was being renovated. It was manufactured by a G. S. Perry & Company in the early 1900's, but I can't find anything about the company although I did find one of its other products on Ebay this week. I've love to know more about the company, if anyone knows about it. The desk is 24" wide by 16" wide, and has an inkwell hole. The wood is original, but was varnished in the 60's as well. The little iron-bottomed chair is 29" tall with the seat reaching 17".
My dad had painted it for me in the 60's as it was in bad shape, but that paint job would have been considered antique too by now! My husband and I, however, painted it Winnie the Pooh pink and green about 10 years ago to match our daughter's room when she was little. Time as passed, however, and she now has an adult-sized desk from IKEA which, of course, will never make it to antique status.
I will throw my 2 cents your way. Even though the "Base" is marked G.S. Perry I do not think they made the desk. I think Perry only made the metal work at their foundry. I believe they supplied U.S. School Furniture Co. with the metal work for their desks. There was a massive buy out around 1899/1900 where 15 or 20 companies were bought out by American seating company. They wanted all the metal work designs and adjustable legs. Eventually they were phased out and the "Folding Forty" was born (fold up seats). That was around 1930's. Memory is foggy but I am quite sure Perry was merged.
Thank you so much for your response. You're comment led me to this website which elaborated on your story - very interesting! Here's the link if you're interested: http://www.furniturecityhistory.org/company/3360/american-seating-co
Thanks again!