Writing Desk - Help with period

[jimi43]

Hi Guys and Gals...

I have recently acquired a rather dainty little writing desk probably meant for a lady and wonder if any of the furniture restorers here could help me identify the period...

It is solid mahogany! The doors are really thick and as you can see from this picture....beautifully carved and worked...

...inside of it is almost pristine....

One handle is broken but they are both originals and the drawer is also solid mahogany....

...with handmade dovetails....

....and stunning original castors...

I think it is a corner piece as it narrows at the back....

It just needs a clean up...some new baize or perhaps tooled leather and a bit of research to see what's missing...

Any help at all in identifying the period of this piece would be most appreciated...indeed any info of any sort!

Cheers!

Jim

 

[RogerS]

This might be worth a punt

http://www.valuemystuffnow.com/

 

[Benchwayze]

Agree with Roger.
The 'Dragons' thought the site was worth a punt too, so they were 'IN'!

Can't help with the period other than the work looks Georgian to me. Where from though , maybe France?
Guessing mind...

John

 

[houtslager]

IIRC, that is a late Vicy/ early Edwardian circa 1900 - 1910 made in Belgium, handles are the main info pressed copper/brass and the"pierced" panal doors.

hth,

karl

 

[dickm]

Guessing too, but I'd certainly bet on its not being British. Instant thought was also French, but Belgian sounds just as likely. Possibly quite a lot older than 1900 though?

 

[Benchwayze]

Belgian is quite probable. But I bet they wouldn't classify it as Victorian, Edwardian or even Georgian.. :lol: Sorry don't know much about the Royals of Belgique..

I have a spare castor somewhere, if you need replacements Jim.

John

 

[jimi43]

Thank you all for your expert advice....really helpful and puts me in the right direction and thank you especially John once again for your kind offer...however the castors are in pristine condition and so I won't be needing yours but it is so very generous of you to offer.

My friend in the village who is a retired cabinet maker and restorer liked it but feels it is English because of the design of the lock. I had to take it out and apart to get a key properly filed down to fit and work and the casing is bolted together which apparently indicates English origin.

That being said we were, and still are, a little flumoxed by the doors and the purpose of the whole piece. You see the sides of the table and the sides of the back cabinet.....there are holes and bracket marks where something was fitted either side. We think it might have been side mirrors and that the doors would have also been mirrored making the unit a dressing table rather than a writing desk.

I am a bit dubious about this because the doors fit so well in place and the surround is not marred by older holes for hinges.

Anyway....I have nearly finished restoring her and she will be a birthday present for my daughter who has just set up home....

I decided upon green leather inlay as a) I had some and b) it goes with most decors and c) I think it looks regal.

I have a bit of work to do to the doors still as the carving is filthy and a nightmare to clean without destroying the patina but it looks a lot better than it did!

Thanks everyone!

Jim

 

[dickm]

Still don't think it's English :? . Without seeing the bits on the side (oooerr), might they be where there would have been candle holders of some sort? They'd be relevant whether it was a dressing whatnot or some sort of writing surface. Would think writing was more likely, given the cupboard.

 

[Jacob]

I wondered about the lighter coloured lining inside. Looks later, maybe covers clues as to the function?
I can't help thinking it held an appliance of some sort, perhaps something to do with the shelves below at the back.
Not a dressing table - no mirrors. Not for writing - no pigeon holes or pen/pencil tills. Not for wet processes - leather top.
Early telephone unit - with batterys on the shelves below?

 

[jimi43]

Just to help this intrigue easier I took some shots of the parts to which you guys refer....

Up under the inside bottom of the mahogany shelf (top one) shows no signs of holes or holes filled...all original and part of the construction but no phone would have been possible as there are no holes for wires....

Also the curved pieces are solid mahogany hewn from solid stock...not veneered...

Inside of the cupboard shows the insert...it might be later but it is firmly glued in place and I can't get it out without potential damage....there are no holes or marks at all where shelves or pigeonholes would have been...just ink staining...but look at the lighter shadow...it would appear another insert is missing from inside that one...once that might be for letter slots with quadrant sides?

Another strange aspect is the finished back....normally this would be just ply or cheap panelling if the idea was for it to be pushed against a wall but the back is French polished and even has decorative (but plane) beading!

I first thought candleholders for the missing side holes but then the doors would have been mirrors to reflect and amplify the light....wouldn't they?

Stranger and stranger!

Jim

 

[BradNaylor]

I'm no expert but my gut feeling is that this piece is not as old as it first looks. The carving looks like it was done by machine to me and has a faintly 1920s/1930s feel to it.

I think Jacob may be onto something with his idea of a cabinet for electrical or telephony equipment. It certainly looks like it was made for a specific purpose.

It will make a nice desk, though.

 

[Tom K]

What are the castor wheels made of Jim? The holes in the top appear key holed suggesting for something to be removed or replaced as required.
Rather than an electrical appliance perhaps this was intended for those
ladylike pursuits needlework, embroidery etc. As to age my guess 1900 - 1910 between Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau.

 

[jimi43]

Thanks guys.

Brad - I am not sure it that makes sense. It would do it they were machined dovetails on the drawer rather than handmade...

That's the bit that scuppers that idea for me...although there is no reason on earth why they couldn't do both machine and hand crafting together...is it likely?

I will take a tracing of one and reverse and see if it matches...it is certainly from a template but hand accuracy will show errors, however good.

As I have said...there are no holes for wires....this throws this out for me along with the certainty that there is something missing...a letter rack I believe, in the shadow of the insert.

Tom - the castors are solid brass with a kind of brown ceramic or fired roller. Your dating closely matches that of my friend here who has seen/touched it and estimates it to be late Victorian, early Edwardian...around 1910. A number of our brethren have suggested this date...some older, some newer...

I realise dating furniture from pictures is difficult and hugely prone to error but the use intrigues me now. I will photograph the holes in close up later.

Jim

 

[BelgianPhil]

Sorry don't know much about the Royals of Belgique..

The resident lurking Belgian to the rescue:
Leopold I 1831-1865
Leopold II 1865-1909
Albert I 1909-1934
Leopold III 1934-1951 except 1944-1950 when he was replaced by his brother Prince Regent Charles
Baudouin 1951-1993
Albert II 1993-present

In Belgium the French periods are used to date furniture (Louis XV, Louis XVI, Regence, Louis Philippe, ...)

 

[Tom K]

Sorry don't know much about the Royals of Belgique..

The resident lurking Belgian to the rescue:
Leopold I 1831-1865
Leopold II 1865-1909
Albert I 1909-1934
Leopold III 1934-1951 except 1944-1950 when he was replaced by his brother Prince Regent Charles
Baudouin 1951-1993
Albert II 1993-present

Surely Eddy Wally is the king of Belgium?

 

[matthewwh]

Another vote for art nouvou, turn of the century to 20's. I stand to be corrected but the front legs are just way too curvy for Georgian, the real clincher for me though is the doors - stunning workmanship and a beautiful example.

It's apparently a style that's due for a resurgence!!!

 

[AndyT]

Here's a thought: It's odd having shelves below the table that can't be got at easily. Could it be that what you have is two separate pieces joined together?

An ordinary little side table (curvy art nouveau lines) and a shelf unit - maybe an orphan part of a sideboard?

I think in this picture

I can make out marks where one of the old back legs has been detached from the table. This could explain the difference in machine/hand techniques, though the timber matching is very good.