Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
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!
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. The one I did see on eBay is listed for $225 and has never been painted. Your desk could start off at around $175 and see if you get any offers at all.
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!!
I just purchased this desk for my teenage daughter, who fell in love with the look of the piece while looking for a writing desk. It looks rather old and has plenty of character. It seems to be handmade, at least when looking at the carving detail and irregular dovetailing on the drawers. I can't find any markings at all, nor can I find many similar photos online. 
It has several brass straps in a single line up the center/rear, which are blocked at the bottom strap, indicating some type of mount for either a candle holder or additional light feature? The center kneehole is very small and has a small recessed shelf. It also appears that the pulls (single hole mount) may have been replaced with vintage (two hole mount) matching brass pull handles. I am interested in finding out just what I purchased, but am having difficulty finding anything online. Any thoughts?
If the dovetailing is irregular, it was made by hand. If the person who made it did not leave any identifying marks on the piece, you may never know who made it.
I bought this desk from someone who didn't know anything about it. It is in reasonably good shape with all drawers in good condition. Some areas of the veneer have bubbled up on the back, but none of it has peeled off. I am just trying to understand what it is (style) and how old it might be or where it might have been made. It is very heavy. Thank you for anything you might be able to share with me about this desk.
To my knowledge this is a French (Louis XV) style "cylinder" escritoire with inlay and tigerwood (veneer). Since you mentioned the weight, it could be fruitwood; is it actually two pieces or one?
I came across this double sided desk today, I don't know what style this is and if it is worth anything. They are asking '500 for it, it's a bit rough although it still looks impressive.
The seller can not provide me any details so I don't know anything about it. I hope you can help. Greetings from Belgium
Looks like a massage piece of furniture.
From what I can see of this desk, it does not appear to be in the best condition and since you cannot show the top, which is most important, it will be very difficult for someone to help you.
You have a lot of pictures but it's difficult to put them in the correct order to really know what/where you're looking.
Also, the most important pictures are very dark which hides the features.
You also do not provide measurements, which in this case are probably necessary.
I see that you are in Belgium, so any information on value in the US would not be useful for your area.
It seems that I really cannot help with an ID, but I will try to suggest some sources for you to try.
You can try asking your question on these sites and maybe someone will try to help.
www.reddit.com/
www.whatsellsbest.com/
Previous answers may help:
www.thriftyfun.com/
Did you happen to ask anyone about how long they have had this desk for sale?
This was my Mother-in-laws desk. She's had it as long as my husband can remember, so it was purchased around 1970 at the latest, probably earlier. I looked everywhere, did not see any markings or stamps, and haven't been able to find pictures of similar desks with that split desk top online.
Does anyone have an idea of a manufacturer, or anything else I can check to get more information and maybe figure out roughly what it could be worth? Thank you!
This desk looks like it is from the 1950s or 1960s. If you cant find a manufacturer mark, it will be very hard to identify it.
As for value, brown furniture doesnt sell well where I live. Many people give this away. Start asking $75 for it, and lower the price if necessary.
I need help identifying this desk. Age, manufacturer, type, and anything else. I cannot find any identifying marks on it. Any assistance would be appreciated.
Does anyone know how old this is or anything about it or its value?
By the uneven spacing on the dovetails in the drawers, I can see it was made by hand and not by machine. It is very old. I would take it to a dealer for an appraisal if I were you.
It has no numbers are stamps and I have looked for years trying to figure it out and haven't yet .it's odd design but I can't find anything like it.
Could someone tell me what type of furniture this is and from when. All it says in the drawers is Jan 21 '28. And the drawers are hinged.
I would like to know about this piece of furniture that was left to me by my mother.
It is a beautiful piece of furniture. I can't make out the mark. To determine age, look at how the drawers are put together. Pins and dovetails were the way drawers were made before 1860, when machines took over. Here is a helpful article to read: home.howstuffworks.com/
This is an amazing piece!! I suggest taking good photos or the piece if you can, to a trusted antique dealer and getting his/her professional expertise on exactly what you have.
I have never seen a piece quite like it! It has the spools, the drop leave, the cubbies!! In the right market with the provenance correctly documented, I am thinking it will fetch a decent amount for you.
The challenge with pieces like this are it may be a one of a kind (meaning it has been modified over the years). Also for selling, the average person will be more willing to pay the true value to a dealer, than a "lay person".
Please post back what you learn! I am so excited to hear about it. Just a stunning piece!!!
Do you know anything about this desk? Such as the age and value?
www.furniturecityhistory.org/
Here's a link about the company, which was based in Michigan and closed in 1983.
If you get to the Smithsonian, they have some of their catalogs on file:
americanhistory.si.edu/
You may be able to find an original ad for the item! That would be cool!
There are lots of Pinterest pages devoted to the comoany's secretary style writing tables, which is one of the names I have heard this style of desk called. The legs I call spinit style...like piano...I have heard some desks like this refered to as piano style because of how it opens.
You may want to sort thru the Pinterest pages to pin down the age of your piece, which is lovely, by the way. I adore this style desk!!
You have a neat find. Some of the pieces still have value, but not all. I don't see an exact match at the moment in eBay's sold section. If you check back often, you can get an idea of what the are valued at in today's market.
Thanks for sharing this sweet item!
There are quite a few of this style desk available so it is not rare and most were made during the approximate same era and most were mahogany.
This style is usually referred to as; spinet, writing or secretary desk.
Colonial Mfg. Company was only well known for making all kinds of expensive clocks and making side furniture was a very tiny portion of their business and most pieces were reproduced over and over until a small change was made that could still be produced with the same cuts and dies of the previous style piece.
If you are really interested in the company history, they produced several books that can still be purchased today or maybe downloaded for free.
Here is a 12 page (of 45 pages) link that describes their history but it is a very boring article unless you are really into the history of their clock manufacturing.
docs.nawcc.org/
What kind of desk is this and estimated value? What kind of wood, etc. I want to know all I can because I love it. I want to refinish so I want to know everything, please.
