I bought this desk from a friend who runs a resale shop. Have used it for a few years but now need something larger. I'm now thinking of selling it but have no idea how to describe it or its value. (Also considering stripping the paint.)
Is it empire style? Any ideas on age? (I know the house it came out of was built in the 1800s and have seen some similar pieces online from the early 1900s but am totally guessing and could be way off.)
Thanks for any insight you may have!
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This could very well be an Empire style desk that was used in a library for a writing desk. I saw one that was listed on eBay describing it just like this. I think the desk is made from mahogany wood but you will need to strip off the paint and refinish it to really find out. When you do list this to sell you will need to indicate that this desk was painted and refurnished so that the buyer knows that it is not in the original condition that it was when first sold.
So I could be way off because the paint is throwing me off...and because I can't see the construction, but nothing about your piece speaks to it being as old as you think it is.
Now if I knew it had dovetail construction and could see how it was put together I may see the age in it, but to me it looks like a 1980s repro piece--either craftsman, mission, industrial-ish, Amish styling--it is a Heinz 57 style--meaning I would not put it fully in any of those buckets--maybe closest to craftsman style--but it is a little too fancy--but certainly not fancy enough to be Empire (which I see no lines of that style--it is more curved -- your piece has curves, but empire has CURVES-- and has more decoration on it--at least what I call Empire).
Again, it could be the paint, but it looks all machine done, smooth lines and cuts--so I don't see that OLD, OLD look to it.
If you bought it from a resale shop, the value you paid (depending on how long ago (I would say last 10 years) is going to be about the same as you paid. So up what you paid so you can see if you can make a profit.
If it was mine, I would NOT strip the paint (unless you a professional) because you never know what you will find and you could seriously damage the piece if it was not done right in the first place.
I am curious to hear more about it--like what the construction looks like (type of drawer connectors, what is the back made from, are there nails and what kind of heads--or are there screws and what kind of heads).
It is really pretty! Post back with more details and what you decide!
Thanks for sharing!!
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