Featured Antique child's desk - need information please

I purchased this child's desk years ago at a garage sale. It has a pop up cubby section that is accessed by pulling the knob underneath. After it is up, you must pull the knob out underneath while pushing down on the cubby section to lock it back down. Has anyone seen one of these before? I have looked for others over the years but have not found one. Thanks!

 

I really like that desk.

 

Welcome, SJH!

What a cool arrangement! Seems kind of elaborate for a child, though. Is there something about the size that makes this a child's piece?

 

Yes. The height is only 2ft 2 in. The height of the opening for the chair is only 23 inches. The width of the chair opening is only 13 inches.

 

Thx!

 

Kool--pop-up secret compartments! If u sell it don't let it go cheap, that's a really neat feature; I've never seen that before.

 

I like it, too.

If you take photos of the sides of the drawers, the back, and the bottom, there are folks in Antiquers who will be able to help determine the age and origin.

Oh, and welcome!

 

I found a few desks with pop-up organizers that were much older than this. They were also more functional. The size and configuration of the pop-up on this seems more for affect than for function. I am not seeing antique in this and I am not seeing this as being commercially made. Either a custom piece or a talented amateur shop project I would think.

Here is one of the antique pop-up desks.

 

Verybrad, do you happen to know if the desk shown in your post is a "child-size" desk? Just curious.

 

It is full sized but compact. I found several 18th and 19th century small desks with pop-ups. None were child sized. None showed the mechanism like yours does. I don't really see a whole lot of similarity but they do show historical precedence.

 

Verybrad, thank you for that information.

 

Here are some more pics. One shows the knob that you pull to enact the spring. Two are of the spring, one with the cubby up and one with it locked into place. There is also a pic of the keyhole from the front and from the top. Last, there is an inside pic of the bottom drawer that shows there are slots in each side where, I guess, there used to be a divider. There is nothing anywhere on the piece that shows a manufacturer.

 

I have a desk almost exactly like this: mine has a center drawer where the chair does in, also matching swivel chair. It was mine as a child and my mom told me it was hers when she was little in the late 1930s in West Virginia (that part may or may not be true). I would love to know more about it - manufacturer, any dates, value? Have you learned anything about this desk?

 

Hi and WELCOME Alina and SJH!!! Once in a while everyone gets stumped, but usually you'll find LOTS of help here with well seasoned antiquers here!!!! Enjoy the fun too!!!

 

In the 1940s, wood working was a lot more popular.
I wouldn't be surprised if this wasn't a plan from Woodworkers, or Popular Mechanics.

Look at the construction of the mechanism.
If this were a commercial project I would expect a different sort of pull system.

 

I have a desk just like the one pictured and I have the matching chair. It is definitely a childs desk. Anyone know roughly the worth of desk with chair. I have had mine 20+ years. Found it at an antique store in Indiana.

 

@Blitz - please start a new thread of your own, in furniture section, with lots of pictures - this thread has been dead for 4-5 years now. That way you can get more attention to your item.

 

I was the original poster for this child's desk. We decided to keep it at the time, but we have recently moved from a house into an apartment and no longer have room for it, so we will be placing it for sale. If anyone has any other information regarding this type of desk it would really help us in deciding what we should be asking for it. Thank you for your help!!

 

after 6 years....u can set your own price..... it's a fine addition to a Childs room...

 

Children's desks and chairs generally do not sell for high prices, unless they are true antiques, or by a famous designer like George Nelson. You see a lot of roll top desks and chairs like this one and they generally sell in $50-$100 range at auction. The hidden cubby is definitely a fun element, especially for kids, and should add value. I'd start high, like maybe $250, but be prepared to sell in the $100-$200 range.