Help Dating, poss ID

Just picked up 2 pieces today at antique store. Wondering if one can possibly date these. I will be picking them up to take home on Monday. The first one has a number and says Mahogany. Here are some pics

 

It appears to be a bureau-bookcase, probably American in the Federal style, hence the overgrown swan-neck pediment, but my hunch is that it is no older than the 1920s and could be much younger.

Impossible to do more than guess from the pictures.

 

Hi, Brian, and welcome!

I had a mahogany piece almost identical to the 2nd one you've shown here (the one with the "flat front" drawers.) It had belonged to my husband's parents, who had purchased it in the late 1950's. It was pretty, but not a particularly high-end piece, purchased when new from a mid-range furniture store in Albany, NY.

Sadly, it was one of the pieces I had to part with when we downsized a few years back. I had wanted to keep it, only because my MIL had loved it so much, but I simply had no place for it.

 

Are they called tall boy ?

 

Well, Fid, as I recall, a "tall boy" was usually a type of "dresser" - not a desk - at least around here in New England...

 

Called secretary desk...the middle cabinet folds down for a desk

 

Welcome, Brian. Since I have nothing useful to contribute (other than that I have heard the other pieces also called high boys) it is all I can do not to say: We're not a dating service.

 

As is usual on revival furniture, a couple different styles, federal in that fretwork on glass doors but the feet are ball & claw chippendale.

Yeah, i think that's right, 1940s-50s, @verybrad would know.

A tall boy or tall chest is a chest of drawers 5 or 6 drawers high. This piece is a desk- bookcase or sometimes called a secretary.

A high boy is a chest of drawers on legs, in william & mary, queen anne & chippendale periods, popular all during the 18th century.

 

Sees now there are 2 different pieces but same form, desk -bookcase, the second one has bracket feet. I'd still guess mid 20th century on both.

 

Would call them fall front secretaries. Agree with a 40s-50s date.

 

When I search tall boy secretary with google pics...then I see whole lotta siblings of the ones shown here.

 

It could be a difference in where you are that accounts for different names.

 

I did think about picking up this one.

 

It came with the chair...seems older to me

 

The world record holder for a single piece of American furniture is a desk-bookcase, built by the goddard/townsend shop in Newport RI sold in 1989 for 12.1 million.
Block front with carved shells desk-bookcase

 

Hi,
I remember that piece and bet it would sell for 4 million. It was a shock back then. Thanks for the memory.
greg

 

Yeah, i wonder what it would bring today during the depression in brown furniture, it might bring closer to that 4 mil number.

 

Hi James,
I think stellar pieces like that hold their prices.
greg

 

1st piece says 3844 Mahg if that signals anything

 

Brian, that number is likely a manufacturer number of the style or part, Mahg would mean mahogany