Posted 14 years ago
SheilaG
(1 item)
I found this desk in a flea market and thought it was very interesing. It has so many hidden drawers and at least one drawer hidden in side another drawer. Everything on the front is actually a drawer, even the parts that look like decorative pieces. Its hard to tell from the pictures but there is leather on the writing area of the desk.
How would I determine if the desk is old or guestimate the value of it? I believe I can purchase it for about $200. I really like it, even if it is not old. It has a lot of character!
Sheila
BUY IT !
If you wait, someone else will get your 'treasure', buy it then worry about the details.........You like it and that should be enough, borrow the money if you have to !
Oh, yeah, in case you didn't get the message, let ME know where it is...............I WILL BUY IT !
Hey Pop! I am smiling, I had already made my mind up to get it, need to convince my hubby. I think he is getting tired of me bringing treasures home and we are running out of room. They sort of migrate thru. One favorite being replaced by another. The market is closed today, but I am going to get a messege to the owner to put my name on it until I can get there Monday morning with some cash!! I hope I can find out more about it. He obtained it from an estate sale. He also has an old Victrola that he is looking for a cord, to see if it works. I will post a picture of it soon.
Now, I'm undecided. I had a chance to look the desk over, pulled it out in the aisle and found that it was made in Indonesia. Maybe I will offer him less for it. It is still a pretty reproduction.
are any of the drawers dovetailed- just cause it is from indonesia dont mean its not old just have to check it out good
I will have to check. I pulled out some of the drawers but was paying more attention to all the secret compartments and drawers I did not look closely at the construction of them. It is in 2 pieces the top is separate from the bottom, which I did not notice first time I looked at it. Thanks for the suggestion, I will check it again tomorrow.
be careful and watch for wood splits. So much of the Indonesian furniture is subject to splitting wood. It is pretty tho.
I did not see any, but was sort of disappointed that it is from Indonesia. It is not very good quality upon closer inspection. Don't think it is old, just a nice looking reproduction. I offered to do some photo and web work in exchange for it! Don't think I will pay $200 for it though.
Sorry the way it turned out, It looks great still....
Yes, I know and I still think it is pretty. It would look nice in my spare bedroom, replacing a very plain desk that is back there... For the right price or trade for the photo work would be a good deal... for both of us actually! Thanks a bunch!!
Well? what did you choose ?
We actually own this desk, and I LOVE it. I know it may not be worth much, but my husband's parents actually bought it in indonesia and had it shipped here. I love the little drawers and compartments. Also, not sure if you knew this but there are a few hidden drawers behind the drawers on the bottom of the little drawers (hope that makes sense) you have to pull the drawers out to get to them. I haven't put anything in them b/c I'm sure I'd forget about them at some point. But they're fun :-)
Its the style you like which is much like the precious style of Irish Chippendale. It has the Irish carving of the legs and prob imitation rosewood wood. The style was virtually invented in Ireland in the 18th Century and the most miraculous thing about the style is that it was not known until after the 1950's IN ANY BOOK. Most books before 1950 or even to 1980 had furniture that was all assumed Brititsh. There are books now about famous furniture that was assumed British that are even mostly in museums proving that you cannot always trust an expert on furniture to be correct always. We are always learning about furniture every day. I usually feel only good about evaluating furniture only seeing it in person. The only real good book on "Irish Furniture" never came out until 2007 and was by The Knight of Glin, Desmond Fitzgerald who wrote a couple great books. I was lucky to have met the coauthor but would have loved to have met Fitzgerald who wrote the book and sold a lot of his furniture from Glin Castle shortly after, and died a few years after that. It was the best way to get good prices for his treaures which shot up in value after the book came out. The book is a treasure and I was anxious to get a piece of 19th century or early 20th century Irish furniture which may have been made well. Having a book helped. Pop_abides is a wonderful connoisser on this site who knows a lot about being lucky to buy something when he knows it is right for him !