Question About Antique Portable Writing Desk

[pennut]

I picked up the antique portable writing desk shown in the pics at an estate sale a couple of years ago. It is in great shape and all the parts are there such as key, ink bottle, etc. Can anyone tell me about it with regard to history and value?

[theverdictis]

That looks really nice. Do you have any antique shops near you, you could take it to?

 

Ben

[pennut]

We have some antique shops here in Tallahassee but they are just not into things like this portable desk. I did some research on the web and saw pics of one like this but was hard to find any pricing. This item may be as old as the late 1800's.

[PaperDarts]

I have no expertise on these but thought I'd at least express my admiration and envy! Looks as though you found a real treasure there.

[kiavonne]

Well, I can't give you any history for your piece specifically.

 

Your box appears to be in fairly good shape, which is nice.

 

When it was used (and it does look well used), by whom, these are questions I could not answer, nor even to its age. These boxes, or a form thereof, have been used from the 18th century forward through the early to mid 20th century. I own two "modern" ones which I had made for me, one in poplar I stressed to look "antique," another in beautiful rosewood.

 

You said you picked it up from an estate sale. Whose estate? What do you know about them and the estate? You might be able to start tracing a little history from there, and might start to give an idea of how old the box is if you can find out who its original owner was. Are there any maker marks on the box itself, inside? In a drawer or on the bottom of a drawer? Hidden compartments? Hardware, and what period is the hardware? Ink bottle?

 

Pricing will be what one is willing to pay, more if you can find some provenance to go with it. Ornate and multifunction antiques in absolute mint condition with known history can go as much as a couple of grand. A poorly kept box in need of major restoration or rebuild might fetch $25, if you're not giving it away. Your box, I don't know, $100-300 in today's market? Are there any major cracks or repair needing to happen? It's also kind of a niche market, and I am not an appraiser by any means, but it is unlikely my own boxes would fetch what I paid to have them made, unless they remain in pristine condition for 100 years down the road in someone else's possession. There are still a lot of these older boxes out there, too. Without definitive history, there isn't going to be a large price tag on them.

 

Formal antique appraisal by a reputable antiques dealer may not be worth the effort without some of the history, but that is an option, too.

 

For me, I couldn't get a nice antique at a price I could afford, so I paid for someone to make my own antiques of the future and paid as much as I could afford for excellent craftsmanship. I will put a note in my boxes explaining the history behind them for my "heirs." It will be up to them to decide to sell or keep, and heaven only knows what they would get for them then. Maybe only $25, or maybe double what I paid for their creation.

Edited April 20, 2014 by kiavonne

[my63]

I am not an expert either however the domed top writing slopes are frequently from the Victorian era 1839 to 1901.

Check the screws in the hinges early boxes had hand made metal screws later boxes had brass screws a simple check with a magnet will help you there.

It looks like yours is a Victorian walnut slope

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antique-Victorian-Dome-Top-Walnut-Writing-Slope-with-Secret-Drawers-and-Key-/191138696152

 

Hope that helps

 

Michael

[pennut]

Michael and Koavinne, I think you are correct that I have an antique victorian dome top walnut writing slope. I have had it for about 3 years and did not realize it might have secret drawers. I lifted the piece to where the secret drawers might be to discover the storage area there. Therse were no secret drawers and I don't think there ever was because there were no runners for such drawers but I did find a post card in an envelop that had the name and address of the people who must have lived in the house where the estate sale occurred. I now remember where the house is and will do some investigating.

I do think the screws in it are not handmade but "circa 1860" is written on a piece of paper in the slope. The ink bottle is in a compartment and it has the orginal cap on it. There is also a small area in which the key is kept. All the wood inside the box is in perfect shape and is beautiful. The brass inlay on the top of the box has the letter LB in ornate script. I am starting to feel that I have a real treasure here and I really appreciate your help.

[kiavonne]

It is a very nice looking box. I'd like to see more photos of it.

[my63]

Pen nut you are right it is a real treasure it needs to be used and looked after.

Secret drawers are great fun I bought a slope from an auction site and found that someone had tried to force the secret compartment and had jammed the mechanism once free I found bequest documents from 1812 I dated the box to 1790 with the help of hygra boxes website www.hygra.com it has lots of information.

[kiavonne]

Good information, Michael.