Featured Old desk info sought

Hello everyone! I’m new here and am interested in vintage furniture.
I have this old desk that seems well made, quite ornate, and of the style of some very expensive pieces. I’ve own it for 25 years and purchased it at an estate sale of a 150 yr old house. As you can see, the joints are dovetail and the engraving appears to be done by hand. I’m looking for information on this piece as it’s been part of the house for so many years and I really know nothing about it…thank you, in advance

 

Id guess it wasnt terribly old when you got it. I think its Malaysia that churned out this stuff. Its very nice quality and certainly decorative but Im not seeing age. I could be wrong though.

 

I do believe it was refinished at some point. There are pencil marks on some of the pieces that appear to designate where they came from. I never would have guessed an Asian contemporary.
Thanks for your take on it.

 

Do wait for others. Weve got several furniture experts,but this being the holidays it might take a few days.

 

Its neighbour, Indonesia. I agree, it looks like it could be one of theirs.

 

The problem I've seen with furniture from this part of the world is that the wood is not properly dried often, and when it's only a few years old can crack and split - sometimes severely.

 

We’re these pieces made to deceive? To a novice (me) the dovetail assembly everywhere and overall look make it seem well made and old. Luckily, we didn’t spend a fortune on it, but it wasn’t close to free, either. I think it was $500 back then. We were hoping we could add a couple zeroes to that when assessing value… only half kidding. But, it’s been part of the family long enough now that I’m sure it will stay that way.

 

They were a prime pieces with easy ability to deceive. . . hand cut dovetails, classic antique forms. Ultimately it's who is selling the piece - the best thing for anyone to do is examine a real antique, then examine one such as this example. Or view tutorials on youtube on period furniture.

 

Agree with Indonesia. Chippendale style. Still being made. Prices are all over the place. $108.00 for this one (wholesale container price).....



Chippendale Escritoire [LMR 358] - $108.00 : Jangkar Navy Furniture!, The Art of Indonesian Furniture (jangkar-furniture.com)

Almost $1600.00 for this one.....


Astoria Grand Felder Solid Wood Secretary Desk | Wayfair

 

but the reality check.....
u overpaid then..
and a week after the funeral, your family members will be here, asking how much it's worth ......cuz it's not a family heirloom....and they want to sell it.....

 

Even with the undercup protector, suggest you don't keep a plant in a pot on it.

 

OK, let all those who've never made a mistake in antiques raise their hand. Umm hmm. I've been into Victorian stuff for many years and I still made a mistake buying an unusually elaborate SE Asian table as a French original not six months ago.

Lest I state the obvious, mistakes are how we grow. I guarantee the O.P. and I will never make the same mistake twice. In the meantime, it you like the desk then keep it anyway. It's a reminder of your interest, not your failure.

Some of these pieces are so heavily worked that they might as well be originals anyway. Thing is, the work itself is pretty heavy-handed....that's the giveaway.

 

No, not made to deceive, just made in the style of. Many Asians love certain European styles, and this furniture was also made in colonial times for the Dutch and other European colonials. This repro furniture is mostly made in the same region where it has been made for centuries.

Some sellers deceive buyers with these pieces, but that is not the manufacturer's fault.

 

Great advice, and my hands are down too. The other giveaway besides the outward carving and appearance is the secondary wood here - another tropical wood which would not have been the case in england/europe or the US. And often if you get underneath you'll see dowels being used. Which is why it is so important to look at a piece everywhere - especially inside, underneath, from the back - much more important than the finish surfaces.

And an even better option than keeping this one may be to find a better, more authentic piece and then pass this one on to someone who cares more about the look than they do its authenticity. Period desks are very underappreciated in today's market so a good time to buy and you can be very selective.

 

Thank you to everyone for the excellent Information! I’m not disappointed, at all.
We love it and will continue to do so. I’ll put a note on the bottom to accurately describe it so everyone will know it isn’t worth a fortune

 

Good.
I have an Indonesian repro display cabinet, which I knew was new when I bought it. I simply needed a display cabinet for my study, where it still is.
I live in the Netherlands, where this type of furniture is simply sold as newly made 'colonial style', never as antique.