Posted 9 years ago
KarenS
(1 item)
The American patent number is 589, which shows it was built in 1838.
The outside is walnut and the drawers are mahogany. The joints are dovetailed. The trim is hand carved. Finish is shellac. It also has a built-in inkwell and original press.
It has the number 76 carved on the side of the drawers, and the number 8 is carved on the bottom near the patent stamp. It seems to be missing a drawer in the middle too.
Does anybody know the maker or state that it was built in? Is it possible it was really built in 1838? Is it called a flip-top writing desk? Can anybody tell me what the numbers might mean? It has no other markings.
Doesn't look to be anywhere near that old-- looks to be 20th century.
Patent #589 is for a "force pump" for water-- nothing related to a desk or any other related items.
Some CLOSE UP photos of the dovetails, trim, back and bottom should help to confirm this is 20th century.
scott
I may have mispoken regarding the stamped number "589". I got the idea of 1838 as the year because of the chart in the link below.
I will be able to post more pictures later. What exactly about the dovetails, trim, back and bottom will show that it is a 20th century piece?
Thank You
http://www.biddingtons.com/content/patentchart.html
I'll highlight details once the pictures are posted.
scott
Research flip top desk with ink well and you should find plenty of material to review.