If These Shirts Could Talk: The Tantalizing Tales Behind Used Clothes
The mysterious packages kept arriving, some from eBay, others from the Home …
Jockeying for Position: How Boxers and Briefs Got Into Men's Pants
Just as underclothes are shielded from public view, the evolution of men's most intimate apparel is shrouded in secrecy. But the story of men's underwear is about more …
Gloriously Grotesque 19th-Century Pipes
The meerschaum pipes carved in Eastern Europe at the end of the 19th century are among the most bizarre and improbable concoctions in decorative art. Some feature …
In the Hot Seat: Is Your Antique Windsor a Fake?
While researching her book, "Killer Stuff and Tons of Money," Maureen Stanton came across all sorts of characters. For years, she shadowed her antiques-dealer friend …
Love at First Kite: How Pizza and Pente Led to One Oklahoman's High-Flying Obsession
Vintage kites from all over the world hang from the ceiling and walls of Richard Dermer’s popula…
Blood, Sweat, and Steel: My Afternoon with the Ace of Swords
“When I got this sword, it was completely covered in blood rust.” Sword maker Francis Boyd is showing me yet another weapon pulled from yet another …
'The Great Gatsby' Still Gets Flappers Wrong
Have you heard? There’s a new swell in town named Gatsby, and he’s bringing flapper flair back into fashion. Baz Luhrmann’s latest cinematic spectacle—his take on “Th…
Say Ahhh: An Oral Surgeon's Quest to Reimagine the Garage-Band Guitar
It’s not unusual for men of a certain age to have a soft spot in their hearts for the look of vintage guitars and the sound…
Forget TV Pickers, Meet the Real Mavericks of the Antiques World
Long before Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz swaggered into the spotlight with "American Pickers," writer Maureen Stanton …
Coveting The Craziest Cat-People Collectibles
The memes are endless—Grumpy Cat, Nyan Cat, Keyboard Cat, Maru, and all the Lolcats. Last year even witnessed the first ever Internet Cat Video Fe…
Art Nouveau Secretary | Art Nouveau279 of 927 |  |  |
mustangtony loves this.
filmnet loves this.
cogito loves this.
Designer loves this.
KonniesKey loves this.
egreeley1976 loves this.
miKKoChristmas11 loves this.
chrissylovescats loves this.
shughs loves this.
toolate2 loves this.
petey loves this.
f64imager loves this.
inky loves this.
walksoftly loves this.
AmberRose loves this.
blunderbuss2 loves this.
BELLIN68 loves this.
officialfuel loves this.
vetraio50 loves this.Create a Show & TellReport as inappropriate
Posted 7 months ago
hookbadger
(2 items)
This secretary is also one I inherited from my grandmother. It was given to her as a gift from her parents upon her graduation from college. I call it "Art Nouveau" but I am not really sure. The curved legs and inlaid wood are similar to pieces that I know are from that time period. It was purchased in France in the early half of the 20th century.
Help us close this case. Add your knowledge below.
Create an account or login in order to post a comment.
Art NouveauArt Nouveau architecture, furniture, jewelry, and graphics took their inspi…
The desk is really beautiful! Emile Galle did furniture of this period. No signature anywhere? The whiplash detail in the marquetry and the structure of the piece are indicators of Art Nouveau. What an heirloom to have received!
WOW VERY STUNNING:) LOVE IT:)
I was initially thinking the same thing, Vetraio50! Though, most Galle pieces are signed in the marquetry. This piece strikes me as by someone else, but it is decidedly French, from the period and BEAUTIFUL. I would kill to have this in my collection. The selection of the veneers on the drawer and sides are superlative! Hookbadger, contact me if you find anything else out about this piece.
Also, I think it goes without saying, but just in case...do NOT try to clean, refinish or polish up this piece. You will destroy about 70% of its value. A soft cloth for dusting and that would be it.
Thanks everyone for your thoughts on my secretary. I am in the process of checking with older members of the family for more info. Cogito, I occasionally use a light lemon oil on it , I hope that this is not harming it!
Another name is Louis Majorelle.
There is a similar desk by him here:
http://www.macklowegallery.com/gallery-display-item.asp/antique/Decorative+Arts/Art+Nouveau/Furniture/antiques/Desks/item/F-1521/Art+Nouveau+Wood+Desk+by+Louis+Majorelle/antique
Beautiful!...:-)
Thanks, vetraio50, it does look like mine.
I'd say that's a match! Nice one, Vetraio50! Knowing what I know of the Macklowe Gallery's prices, you have a VERY nice family heirloom there, and more importantly, your example has the original finish. The Macklowe example finish has been monkeyed with...albeit well done, but still cleaned to look like it looked when it was new.
I'd also point out that the veneers on your example are superlative relative to the Macklowe example...matter of fact, their drawer looks a little bit "off," now that we have your example for comparison.
And the handle is there too!
Fabulous!
This is GORGEOUS ! Just fantastic I can only dream of coming across something like this.
Nice laptop table!!!!