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Victorian? English? Secretaire Bookcase - info requested!
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<p>[QUOTE="StormcrowMithrandir, post: 4570673, member: 78431"]I have recently purchased this secretaire bookcase. The (Facebook marketplace) seller, who had inherited it, thought it 'might' be made from walnut and 'might' be Victorian 'but I don't really know'. No doubt some of you will be more knowledgeable than the seller (or myself). I have included five images of the outside, interior secretaire desk, as well as the backboard in the upper bookcase section and the inside of one of the bottom cupboard doors. I am in Australia, however the lock mechanisms say 'English made' (no maker's marks), so I gather the bookcase is made in England and exported at some stage.</p><p><br /></p><p>I wonder if someone could help me out with some info.</p><p><br /></p><ol> <li>What is the likely period? Is it as the seller guessed Victorian? Edwardian perhaps? The Victorian era lasted for the majority of the 19th century so this is not very specific. I imagine there is a big difference in styles, construction, etc between 1840 and 1900.<br /> <br /> </li> <li>What is the wood likely to be? Is it walnut as the seller thought it might be? I understand a look of these bookcases were also made of mahogany and oak. Interestingly, the inside of the lower cupboard doors is a much darker brown (see image) so perhaps the exterior wood has been faded by the sun.<br /> <br /> </li> <li>How should I (someone who does not have access to specialist tools) best maintain it - in particular, in terms of keeping the wood finish nice? I generally like a darker wood appearance like rosewood so if it has faded I would quite like to restore the original richer/darker finish. Should I oil it (if so, Danish oil or some other kind?) or would it be better to use some kind of wax or polish? Does it require stripping?<br /> <br /> </li> <li>Is this piece a nice example?<br /> </li> </ol><p>Thanks to anyone who can help shed some light for me - I am a novice when it comes to this kind of thing.<img src="https://preview.redd.it/74eh4j7qedr91.jpg?width=2604&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cca1497e6d9ae9f6941419eb8a6b4d3081138f9f" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> <img src="https://preview.redd.it/dii6yq7qedr91.jpg?width=4624&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=afe1ecb47bebfb47d7b6aeeeb12a3394964bca05" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> <img src="https://preview.redd.it/rv8y5l7qedr91.jpg?width=4624&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a728e6cfc05dc89139bf73e47a1bae06e5e98ef0" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> <img src="https://preview.redd.it/uzb8n67qedr91.jpg?width=2568&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=da799b1b5aeae38a26c7263eabbfc13536195c40" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> <img src="https://preview.redd.it/wlvxwb7qedr91.jpg?width=2600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fa3da92d2439abf56051bcf75f06babec6a9a89a" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="StormcrowMithrandir, post: 4570673, member: 78431"]I have recently purchased this secretaire bookcase. The (Facebook marketplace) seller, who had inherited it, thought it 'might' be made from walnut and 'might' be Victorian 'but I don't really know'. No doubt some of you will be more knowledgeable than the seller (or myself). I have included five images of the outside, interior secretaire desk, as well as the backboard in the upper bookcase section and the inside of one of the bottom cupboard doors. I am in Australia, however the lock mechanisms say 'English made' (no maker's marks), so I gather the bookcase is made in England and exported at some stage. I wonder if someone could help me out with some info. [LIST=1] [*]What is the likely period? Is it as the seller guessed Victorian? Edwardian perhaps? The Victorian era lasted for the majority of the 19th century so this is not very specific. I imagine there is a big difference in styles, construction, etc between 1840 and 1900. [*]What is the wood likely to be? Is it walnut as the seller thought it might be? I understand a look of these bookcases were also made of mahogany and oak. Interestingly, the inside of the lower cupboard doors is a much darker brown (see image) so perhaps the exterior wood has been faded by the sun. [*]How should I (someone who does not have access to specialist tools) best maintain it - in particular, in terms of keeping the wood finish nice? I generally like a darker wood appearance like rosewood so if it has faded I would quite like to restore the original richer/darker finish. Should I oil it (if so, Danish oil or some other kind?) or would it be better to use some kind of wax or polish? Does it require stripping? [*]Is this piece a nice example? [/LIST] Thanks to anyone who can help shed some light for me - I am a novice when it comes to this kind of thing.[IMG]https://preview.redd.it/74eh4j7qedr91.jpg?width=2604&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cca1497e6d9ae9f6941419eb8a6b4d3081138f9f[/IMG] [IMG]https://preview.redd.it/dii6yq7qedr91.jpg?width=4624&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=afe1ecb47bebfb47d7b6aeeeb12a3394964bca05[/IMG] [IMG]https://preview.redd.it/rv8y5l7qedr91.jpg?width=4624&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a728e6cfc05dc89139bf73e47a1bae06e5e98ef0[/IMG] [IMG]https://preview.redd.it/uzb8n67qedr91.jpg?width=2568&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=da799b1b5aeae38a26c7263eabbfc13536195c40[/IMG] [IMG]https://preview.redd.it/wlvxwb7qedr91.jpg?width=2600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fa3da92d2439abf56051bcf75f06babec6a9a89a[/IMG][/QUOTE]
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Victorian? English? Secretaire Bookcase - info requested!
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