Posted 5 years ago
biniki60
(1 item)
I got this desk in Mainz, Germany (I live in Germany). The guy told me that it was very very old but I would love to hear you about that. There is not hardware at all, everything is wood. And it looks like someone added blocks under the 4 legs because it was built very low. It's 29 inches high, 45 inches large and 27,5 inches deep. And has 4 drawers at the front and one at the back (I likethis special feature).
I found over 15 web sites that discuss how to conceal nail/screw heads in wood. The side to the left of the draw front, differs from its' opposing side. Did you ask the guy how old was very, very old? If it was an antique, adding blocks of wood to the legs does not serve it well.
Gillian, Thanks for your answer. He told me about 1700 but I seriously doubt it. That's why I'm asking for some help to find its real dating and origin....
There is really no way its origin can be established, and it is not an 18th century desk. It doesn't have a distinctive style that could date when it was made. Likely someone will be by who may give you their thoughts.
To me, it appears as if it may have been a taller table and someone wanted it short to be in the living room in front of a couch, so they cut the legs off, instead of adding to the bottom. It may have been a kitchen table??? Nice tho and very rustic!
Pull out the little drawer and take a pic of the corners of it and near the face so we can see the dovetail. That will tell a lot right there.
Apologies, I didn't see the other pics. But...I can't see it anyway because the pic is very dark. I do see where the "nails" are made of wood.
I did take a better look and it appears to not have been a kitchen table but a dressing table. Those legs have been cut off for sure. Always know, some people will say anything to get you to buy something. If you love it, use it in good health and I do think it's old but not as old as they led you to believe. I bet if you look at the back, you may find that there once was a mirror attacked to the opposite side of where the drawers are. That drawer pull is old for sure, but also could have been added.
This has a vanity type knee hole as opposed to a normal desk knee hole. As for the parts being pinned together with wooden pegs, that is common and I still do it today when I make raised panel drawers etc. You see wooden pegs expand and contract at the same rate as the wood they are holding together. Screws, nails & glue do not expand and contract at the same rate so you get splitting and cracking. Whoever attempted to modify this essentially ruined it. I would think it was cut down for either a little girl or a midget to use. As for the age.....some people have called me very, very old. I believe you bought a story and not a desk.
I'll take some more pictures tomorrow with a better light so you can all see more of it. It is sad that we cannot share more than 4 pictures though. And btw, I did not buy a story, I bought a cute desk because I liked it. If I can find out the real story of it, great, if not, it's still a pretty desk in my opinion :)
Fhr, you're only as old as you feel. Some mornings, that's a scary thought !