Secretary

Where have all the finer antiques gone?
Hidden away...

I spent all weekend, in countless antique stores looking and looking.
The only thing readily available, dressers.

I know some of you may think this is not of the finest notion, but it'd do my home right proper. I can not, for the life of me, lay off american empire.

These are the ads pictures, I have not seen it in person.
Its been fully restored/refinished, all original parts and pieces.

What decade would yall put this piece in?
What price would you pay for it?

 

it's very nice.....are those ' fun house' mirrors on the front......

 

It pains me that wavy glass is not in my house!

 

I would call it American Empire. Mid to late 1800s.
Looks nice except for the pull out - doesn't appear to have been finished. Probably had leather and may be cost prohibitive to replace.


In northern CA retail if that area is unfinished $250-350. It's unusable as a desk. Storage and display in its current condition.

 

Yes, the overlay is needing replaced, they pointed that out.
Hes asking $450 but said he'd do $400.

What makes it unusable?

 

Yeah, the problem is, it isn't American Empire, it's late Classical. Although related, these 2 styles are very different, empire is hand made (1790-1820) and classical is machine made (1840-1900). They have the same lines/form but the decoration is very different as well, empire has gilded surfaces, carving and beast/paw feet.

 

Here is a brief description on the differences between these 2 styles
http://rarevictorian.com/2009/06/empire-furniture-isnt-always-empire-furniture.html
Examples of the differences
American Empire/ built by Duncan Phyfe

Late Classical

 

Thanks for clearing that up.
That style has always been referred to as anerican empire around here.
It has confused me because I have known empire to be gilded and carved, but lacking the scroll feet, that is where i thought the 'american' part came in.
Also true empire being from the french during the napoleonic era, americans naturally coming later into the trend, the mid 1800s

So this is called classical?
Just classical?

 

Late Classical, sometimes referred to as pillar & scroll, american empire tends to be rare & expensive, it was hand made, each piece is unique, it was very pricey even when new. Many american dealers/sellers confuse the related styles for obvious reason but, people who collect american empire know the difference, trust me.

 

I'd say Cluttered is pretty close value wise, in my part of the country (east coast) it's tough to give away late classical though. There is A LOT of this furniture around & it tends to be large and heavy. Wait for others to chime in like @verybrad

Late Classical (correct term style wise), pillar & scroll and also empire revival, dealers just can't resist that term EMPIRE!

 

In American furniture, the Empire style was most notably exemplified by the work of New York cabinetmakers Duncan Phyfe and Paris-trained Charles-Honoré Lannuier. These guys were MAJOR competitors in NYC for the top of the furniture market in the first decades of the 19th century and, if you have to ask how much? you can't afford either one, then or now.
Charles-Honoré Lannuier piece at the MET

 

When the writing surface pulls out the surface will most likely be rough. Can't write on it. It's unfinished.

@James Conrad
Thanks for correcting me. I have never really gotten furniture period style names down. I have a basic knowledge of time periods, and I'll admit, I'm not always correct there either.

 

Agree with James, and circa 1850. Would think no more than $300.00 most places but restoration ought to be worth something if actually perfect. Minus points for lack of leather on the writing surface. You certainly could not find something new this nice for the money.

 

Tell you what, you get a lot of furniture for your dollar with this style, with most antique furniture styles these days, very good buy for those that like this style.

 

Close enough Cluttered! There is A LOT of confusion about this style, i think i am gonna start calling it "empire revival". I notice an uptick in people coming in here with inquires about this style, maybe it's on the come back trail!

 

You could probably restore the writing surface with Baize for much less than leather & it's a traditional material as well. Baize is woolen cloth (looks like felt but isn't). It is used today for pool/billiard & card tables. The dark green baize against the wood looks pretty sharp i think.

https://www.simonlucasbridgesupplies.co.uk/product-category/bridge-cloths/fabrics/

 

How traditional is Baize as a writing surface? Well, at the Smithsonian in Washington, they have the desk Thomas Jefferson used to write the Declaration of Independence and the writing surface is Baize!

https://finewoodworking.com/membership/pdf/23066/011144064.pdf

 

Here is a video on how to install fabric, pretty easy really.

 

Looks simple enough.

I wonder, if you are writing with just a sheet of paper and pen what is the best surface to have?