This desk is very unique. If you pull the writing tray out, all doors open at once. It also has an inkwell and there is an extension that can be lifted and used as an extended work area. The third and fourth pictures show the gear mechanisms that cause the doors to open. They all work. Does anyone know what type of desk this is and what it might be worth?
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This is an amazing piece!! It has a Dutch/Swedish flair to it. I have never seen one in person so you are very fortunate to have such a beauty!
This appears to be a Wooten- style (now if you can find a signature it could be an original--although his works had much more gingerbread on them and yours has a very clean look about it)--which is why I am calling it a Wooten STYLE piece)
These pieces are usually sold under the term "secretary" vs. desk.
I am going to suggest you have a true antique/vintage appraiser look at it for you for the following reason...
The look has a 1960s feel to it (clean--Mid Century Modern style to it), but the gears speak that it may be older--or a very good reproduction piece. That is why an expert needs to see it in great detail--and ideally in person.
Are there any markings on the desk or the gears?
Once you have the piece firmly identified the person or persons identifying can help you value it for your area. These are very rare pieces (a term I do not use often) but these are not frequently on the market so that makes them rare and with rare pieces if someone really wanted a piece like this--no matter who the maker is--you are going to fetch much more money for it if it sold in the right format--which for a piece like this is probably in a real auction house that specializes in antique/vintage furniture. Not an eBay sale or any DIY type sale.
Even if this is a repro piece--it is unusual--and large enough that you will want to have it sold by a professional who can price it for the market.
Post back what you learn!! I am fascinated by it and will keep researching to see if I can pin anything else down for you--just based on the look and the gears.
Thank you for sharing!
Any idea where I can locate a antique appraiser near Columbia Missouri??
Here are two websites and one phone since I didn't see a website:
Williams & Solliday Fine Antiques
Address: 11 S 9th St, Columbia, MO 65201
These are from a general search and I am not an affiliate nor do I receive anything from sharing their info. Hopefully they are still open--as COVID has hurt so many small businesses.
Always best to get at least 3 quotes if you are going to let them sell for you. Read your contract carefully and ask questions before signing so you know exactly how they work.
Every organization is a little different!
Post back what you learn on your amazing piece!!
Really unusual desk.
I'm going out on a limb with this but I tend to believe this was a 'one of a kind' desk that an expert cabinet maker either built for himself - either for his own personal use; or as an example of his work showing the different kinds of 'devices' he could make for anyone wanting custom made furniture; or it was made on a preorder for a customer.
I know that i can be wrong but I just cannot see a brand name company putting this much into anything that will not be a continuing seller and I believe this would wind up being a 'white elephant' for any company.
One feature that sounds especially 'one-of-a-kind' is the gear mechanism that makes all doors open when the writing table is pulled out. This does not seem like anything a regular desk user would want to have happen.
As I said: my personal opinion.
This piece could have been made by a famous cabinet maker and only a true appraiser would recolonize this.
There was a company that made 'expandable' furniture, Saginaw Expand-O-Matic but their pieces were not this intricate and all features were very useful.
theweekendcountrygirl.com/
I also believe this might have more value if featured at a regular auction that advertises their auction pieces.
You can also try using some of the free online appraisal sites to see what information you can obtain. These sites also have auction houses they recommend that deal in this type of items but they are just suggestions. Free appraisal sites will not usually provide their services if the item is valued at less than $500.
Here is one site but their are others available.
antiques.lovetoknow.com/
Thank you for the information. We went over the pice last night again looking for a label or makers mark there is nothing.
In the past, there were many extremely talented cabinet makers and some of these makers made a distinguished name for themselves and qualified appraisers know their names, their countries and dates they made their cabinets.
I just have the feeling that your desk/cabinet was made for someone by personal order but every cabinet maker had their own 'marks' in the design and workmanship and had no reason to sign it or make a mark.
You will not find any type of brand or mark on a cabinet of this nature as just the workmanship was their 'mark'.
It's possible this cabinet was made during the period of time that cabinet makers were commissioned to build individual pieces for wealthy families that wanted to have their own items built for them.
You will probably never know the true history unless you engage a qualified appraiser either for free or paid as it would be rare for such an appraiser to be located in a small area or a small auction house.
Pay attention to the niche in the middle your desk, which is closed by a sliding cover. As you can see, the height of the desk is lower in this place. This height is just right for a typewriter.
In the attached screenshot you can see an example of a typewriter table made in 1900-1950 www.ebay.com/
The size of the niche at your desk matches the size of the first typewriters. Considering that the first commercial typewriters were introduced in 1874, but did not become common in offices until after the mid-1880s, and judging by the size and height of the typewriter niche at your desk, then most likely your desk was made presumably in 1880's - early 1900's. Perhaps your desk was made to order, which is explained by the impossibility of finding a similar desk. Since your desk has a mechanism, you can indicate this in the name.
So, you have Antique Industry Mechanical Typewriter Desk, circa 1880-1900. I think the price is about $3000-4000 https: www.ebay.com/
Are there any makers marks, numbers, tags or names anywhere on this desk? Be sure to check the backs and undersides of any drawers too.
It looks like a hybrid type of secretarys desk. Look for a manufacturer mark underneath, behind and in the inside of drawers. It will help make identification and age easier
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