Interested to know more about writing desk please?

I'm not sure of the correct term for this. Writing desk? Secretary desk? Interested to find out how old it might be and any other information really. The story is it came to England with my husbands grandparents when they fled Nazi Germany. I've no clue on age, it may not even be old enough to be classed an antique haha. When does something become an antique?
I've browsed lots of pictures but haven't seen any with the curving internal drawers like this.

Thanks

 

Are those the original hinges? I think I'm seeing machine made screws, and unfortunately they look rather new, as does what I can see of the rest of the metal. The joins on the drawers and the wood underneath may tell the tale. I'm no expert on furniture, but my WAG from what I can see is 1920s trying to look like 1770s. Do those ornamental bits on either side of the interior drawer pull out? The interior wood on those may give the game away.

 

I was thinking that might be that kind of era. Everything looks quite perfect and right angled if that makes sense. It also makes sense it may have been a fairly new piece of furniture that they brought with them. The side bits do pull out, what would I be looking for?

 

Gold coins.(LOL) They were not so secret compartments originally used to hold stuff you didn't want a casual thief to find. The modern reproductions don't always include them. You might even get lucky and find a maker's name. I'd be looking to see what kind of secondary woods were used and what kind of joinery they did. Furniture guys always look at those things to determine age.

Brown wood is off at the moment, and pieces like this are a bargain if you're buying; just try and find modern solid wood at the same price, especially with the detail the maker put into this thing.

 

It appears to be a good quality bureau bookcase from the early 20th C. The important thing is the good quality. I'd buy that over a much older but less well detailed example. It is a useful item of furniture, every home should have one even if you have a laptop on the fall front and a wi-fi router in the central cupboard.

I am guessing it is British. If it had a discrete label somewhere for Gillow or Waring and Gillow that would be a real bonus, but unless it looks a lot worse in person than in the pictures, I like it.

However, I am pretty ancient. Not everyone wants brown furniture.

Re reading the original post I see it is in Britain. I am pretty sure it is not continental European but 1920s British, and if I was leaving Germnay or Austria, I'd not be taking such a big lump with me.

 

I see some style similarities (hardware, the windows, maybe even the top decoration) to Jugend (nordic interpretation of art nouveau) style cabinets from the early 20th century I've seen somewhere before.

 

The story may be incorrect, particularly if it is British which might suggest it was purchased after they arrived. Though they definitely brought an awful lot of heavy furniture with them. Huge sofas, tables etc. They were very wealthy and basically transplanted their hugely successful manafacturing from Berlin to the UK.

I've added a couple of photos, the side bits next to the internal drawers and also the larger drawers themselves. I know nothing at all about furniture but it looks 'modern'(ish) in terms of the screws etc. It is in great condition though I noticed a couple of the smaller drawers have splits across them.

Any idea of value? Not a lot I guess, not that we especially want to lose it. It has sentimental value to us. We just have no space for it so it's in the garage which seems a shame.

 

You could edit your post to select large pictures instead of thumbnails, it's easier to compare them.

Where you are in the UK is an important factor in value..

Pretty well all auction houses have a free valuation day, take the pictures and show them. I'd buy it myself even if I had to put it in one of the spare bedrooms.

 

Should be changed now. Though just noticed I put two of one picture in, sorry.
What would you pay haha

We are in Norfolk.

 

that secret compartment is Super Cool !!!!
Good call Evely !!!!

 

I've seen them before. The hardware is all distinctly modern. Beyond that, AF knows an awful lot more than I do about British furniture. Whoever did that made a good job of it. I'd bring it inside and store love letters in those secret drawers; let the grandchildren find them 50 years from now and turn bright red when they read 'em?

 

Oh you little tart you !!!

 

Does anyone remember the TV movie about the 'time-travel' love letters in an old desk with a couple that were 100 or so years apart??? It was VERY neatly done!!!! They kept writing back and forth to each other.........

 

I see some style similarities (hardware, the windows, maybe even the top decoration) to Jugend (nordic interpretation of art nouveau) style cabinets from the early 20th century I've seen somewhere before.






Here is an English Georgian piece from the late 18th C. that this one is reproducing, note the corniche top with blind frets, the astragal glazing on the doors and the overall appearance which is why I think this one is English in origin. Jugendstihl was mostly about discarding the old to pioneer new design.

 

This is what happens to fine wood furniture too often nowadays.
They get out the paint tin and call it restoration.




Beautiful shabby chic writing bureau-bookcase by
Eclectivo

140 £


Sold

Lovely shabby chic oak writing bureau-bookcase, freshly restored, which has been profesionally handpainted "Old white" in Annie Sloan and finished with a clear wax. There are three drawers, which open and close fine. there are nice brass handles. This is a very attractive, useable piece of furniture. It is an eye catching and practical piece of furniture. It will look beautiful in any french ispired, country house or shabby chic style house.

The glass bookcase is detachable.


The measurements are:

height 203cm

width 91,5cm

depth 47,5cm

 

That one doesn't hurt me much; it looks like 20s or 30s factory work. Repro bat wings, bun feet .... It looks like the one my cousin pulled out of Grandma's house, literally. She left Grandma's as found as far as I know, but it wasn't anything special. The OPs is a considerably better grade of furniture.