I hope this is the right place for this, if it isn't just let me know and I'll delete it.
I was at goodwill with my wife today and couldn't keep my eyes off this crazy looking desk thing. I did some google-fu and found out that it's a secretary cabinet, almost definitely asian. My question for you guys is two-fold, I guess.
How do I know if this is a legit antique piece and not something some guy threw together in his garage?
Do I want to try to do some light restoration work (staining and fixing the hinges/hardware) or will that destroy any value it has? I know somebody put new screws in the pull down door hinge.
Thanks in advance, and again sorry if this is the wrong place for this.
Here's an interior shot with the front opened up. The majority of the hardware looks like a metal 'Y', where the bottom of the 'Y' is where the handle or knob would be and it spreads out and holds it in place. Reminds me of the fastening mech on a manilla envelope. I've never seen something that didn't utilize bolts so I'm fairly confident it's old.
Cool piece!
Let me call my buddy buddy
He's an expert on cheap chink shit,
can you take pictures of the joints.
>>969796
You're going to have to flip it over and look at the makers marks on the bottom. A quick Google search after that should tell you everything you need to know.
>>969796
The bolt in the first pic was to keep the big door from coming open on the ride home.
>>969808
There isn't one. That's the first thing I did when I got it home.
Also, here's a pic of the knob securing thing, from the inside of one of the doors.
>>969810
That looks cheap.
How heavy is the thing?
>>969815
It's super heavy. It's all solid, as far as I can tell.
my gut says reproduction
the piece in the middle doesn't match
no way that is the original hardware
dunno how much you paid for it but I wouldn't worry about value....
>>969775
Have a look at the underside/inside...look at the drawers...
Look for modern screws, nails etc...
My best guess at the few pics here is its a modern/newly built repro...
>>969775
It is a secretary's desk. A very ornate one at that.
>>969861
There aren't any screws anywhere except on the inside where the 'arms' support the door that folds down, and I think they were added by the guy at goodwill, he told me he reattached the door. Everything else is brads except for those weird Y bolt things.
I paid 60 for it so I'm not going to be out a huge amount of money even if I fuck it up re-staining it.
>>969892
it should be fine
you should be able to flip it for more than that
>>969901
OH
My bad brother, I didn't read it right, sorry.
This is the best I can do for tonight, I'm not keeping it at my house for space reasons. I can get a better set of pics tomorrow.
This is not an antique. This is a cheaply made secretary from the 70s. Maybe it counts as retro.
>>970001
I agree with relatively cheaply made. I definitely looks like an 'export' model. But I'm doubtful @ 70's. I would think it's older than that based on the extensive use of rivets.
I'm definitely not an expert, and it might be from post war era 1940's-50's. I would also accept 1920's era import.
Can't be much older than that because that desk top looks like a plywood cut veneer. (the grain pattern looks like what you can get from a spiral around the tree, as apposed to a plain sawn thin veneer from a thick board). I could be wrong there, but I don't see any seam lines where the grain pattern changes in the picture. also try art historian type page to ask about pictures and art style. my understanding is that's the easiest way to pin down furniture like this, because the mass market styles in China changed every few years (usually to simplify and make cheaper).
>>970087
It might help. Don't take a picture of anything covered in metal. We need exposed joints. Try the back of the unit and the sides of the drawers. Although I do agree with the others. It appears to be a fairly cheap early or mid century design made to cash in on 'oriental' styles. It is most definitely not a design of Chinese origin. They didn't make secretaries like that.
Are you looking to keep it or sell it?
If sell, don't do any refinishing, just sell it as is. You could easily get probably $400 for this at the right consignment store.
If you want to keep it, do whatever you want to it, it's yours.
Doesn't look antique, but it's definitely vintage. Looks like it was probably Chinese made for export since it mimics the style of American desks.
>>970193
>$400
>easily
what have you been smoking in that crack pipe?
Commencing photo dump
Post it on /a/ lol
>>970043
I wouldn't go earlier then the 50s. Nor later then the mid 70s. I realize that's a broad range.
>>970203
Jesus christ it looks like something from 7th grade woodshop.
>>970201
Have you ever been into a yuppie furniture store?
I had a silverplate wine bucket with most of the silver removed due to abuse just sell at one for $150.
Sold a welded metal statue I got at a garage sale for $5 for $125.
I've sold several cigar humidors there for $50 each which I pick up for $10 less than a mile away at a cigar shop.
You would be surprised to find out how much people spend on stupid shit. It is also very location specific, you're not going to get NYC prices in bumfuck Iowa. So, just because you wouldn't, don't think someone else wouldn't.
>>970448
worked at a furniture store that sold just about anything + many years of watching antiques roadshow
anyone actually looking for asian stuff would know it wouldn't be worth that price
>>970448
what state are you in? seriously I have a lot of furniture to unload and am willing to drive. im not being a jerk if your estimates are half way close I go there.
>>969775
i think its american made to look Asian.
also if the Chinese want to make something look like an antique they are so good at it you wouldn't know. maybe some cheap fakes but their trickery knows no bounds for people with enough money to blow.
i would do whatever i felt like to it. i think the roadshow has sort of overblown the amount of damage people do to items. nobody but a museum pays for an ugly piece. and the likely hood of a person selling a piece to a museum is incredible rare. Also if you refinish a piece and sell it in 30 years I would guess 90 percent of people wouldn't know.
