New to me desk

I just picked up a desk from my aunt that was my grandfather’s and I’m interested to see if anyone has seen one quite like it. I’ve looked through thousands of images and I can’t find one quite like it.. Any type of information is appreciated.

Desk by Wyosambie posted Jul 22, 2018 at 7:06 PM

Open by Wyosambie posted Jul 22, 2018 at 7:06 PM

Back desk by Wyosambie posted Jul 22, 2018 at 7:06 PM

 

Welcome! Your pictures in the Gallery are "private" - that's why we can't see them. You need to change your setting to Public.

 

Welcome! Your pictures in the Gallery are set to Private and need to be changed to Public for others to see.

 

Whew, now I got it, or so I hope.

 

Yes you did! Very interesting style on the outside, although I see that at least the top needs some TLC. The furniture gurus may want some additional pictures, particularly of the construction details.

 

That third picture in the Gallery - the Brazilian label - is it part of this desk? If so, you should add that picture here.

 

It is, I will add it as well. I will say that the Brazilian tag might be a store, but I think it might be a resale of it but I’m not certain. The desk does have some wear as they said my grandfather always had his coffee cup on the corner.

 

Casa Gelli in the city of Petropolis seems still in existence though at another address. Gelli touches me as an Italian name, so it could be an import from Italy - the carvings remind a bit of old German Heimatstil. perhaps you could decipher what's written on the 5 stripees underneath the Gelli sticker; could either be for import taxes or for store taxes.

 

The stickers seem to be Brazilian tax stickers from what I have seen on the internet. They say Brazil at the top and then consumo and 3,000.

 

I get a Spanish or Spanish colonial feel from this.

Found this piece with similar styling listed as Spanish Colonial - Brazilian in origin...



Source:

http://ancientpoint.com/inf/72443-s..._antique_rosewood_jacaranda_bargueno_bar.html

 

Founded in 1897 by an Italian immigrant to Brazil and, at one time, the country's most important furniture manufacturer. You should be able to date your piece from the "Gelli and Sons" addition under the Casa Gelli logo. Unfortunately, the only reference I can find to that isn't until 1938 which is probably a bit late.

Here are photographs of, amongst other things, the Casa Gelli factory and a showroom.

http://tribunadepetropolis.com.br/sonhando-acordado-na-casa-gelli

And, of course, that would be Portuguese Colonial, rather than Spanish Colonial, as Brazil was a colony of Portugal.

Debora

 

There are many many people of Italian heritage in Brazil, I met a fair few. Many also still have Italian citizenship, and have hence ended up in London. (Which means we get great food.)

 

Thank you all for your insight, I am loving all your thoughts.

My next question, it needs some tlc, some cracking wood, it’s dirty, etc. I love the color and overall look of it, and to be quite honest I might keep the markings of where my grandfather’s coffee cup sat. So do I lightly sand it and add some poly, or what should I do to smooth it out a sniff in and protect it?

 

Don't sand it! The coffee rings will come out with half a walnut rubbed on it. Give it a gentle clean over - I'd even use a damp cloth. Then a light wax.

 

It has some ridged, kind of wavy spots. Is there a way to smooth those over a bit?

 

Not as an amateur. That sounds like veneer is lifting a bit. A pro might iron them out or even slit them and reglue.

 

did Mister Khan give his okay to Italian food ? it's like the page three girls - not halal.