ANTIQUE DESKS - BLOG AND NEWS

16th March 2013  - Antique Desks Archive

Antiquedesks.net maintains an archive of its sold stock.  Since this now goes back for over a decade it has a huge number of photographs and details of desks, tables and desk chairs of all ages and styles.  It is not possible to share this whole archive on our website, however we have selected a number of interesting desks from our more recent sales to place in our Archive Pages.  Our archive is particularly useful when researching desks that come into stock or when searching for a particular style of desk for one of our Clients.  If you are looking for a particular desk please feel free to contact us and we can discuss our Antique Desk Finding Service.

19th February 2013  - Bespoke restoration of an Antique Desk or Writing Table

One of our specialities is being able to offer our Clients a bespoke personal restoration service based around one of our fine (but as yet un-restored) antique desks, tables and chairs.  We have several examples in stock at the moment where this unique service applies. The service is designed to retain as much originality are possible and to produce a finished product of exceptional retail quality - literally as good as new - and ready for many years more service but in a way that matches as closely as possible the individual requirements for each Client.  For example - a desk could be polished to a shade of the Clients choice and have a new leather writing surface fitted that matches their own taste in colour and decorations - even down to the size and style of the hand tooling of the leather itself.  Examples of desks ready for personal restoration include a fine large antique partners desks (ref 1031) and a small Victorian pedestal desk (ref 2077).  Our full restoration service (together with "before" and "after" photos can be see by going to our "Antique Desk Restoration" page.

10th February 2013  - Buying an Antique Desk? 

Our antique desks and antique writing tables have always offered great value for money, being fully restored genuine antiques that are made from the highest quality materials and will literally last a lifetime.  Delivery will be fully insured and made by our trusted professional antique shippers and couriers.  Full details can be found on our Payments and Delivery page.  As always we continue to offer a very competitive international shipping service to all parts of the world - again full details can be found on our Payments and Delivery page

29th January 2013 Large Antique Desks

Our larger antique desks are now finding a new use as an excellent work space in the "home office".  Traditionally to be found in the corporate office of one of the captains of industry (we have one example in stock which had exactly that history!) these larger desks (either pedestal desks or partners desks) offer the working space and storage that no modern piece of furniture can match - view our current stock by following this link to our Large Desk page.

26th January 2013 New Stock Arriving - Antique Writing Tables and More

A number of new stock items have arrived this week - and go straight into our Winter Sale - for example we can offer an excellent Antique Edwardian Twin Drawer Writing Table - in walnut - with a hand tooled and gilded writing surface for only £780 in the sale (was £975).  For full details of this fine table please follow the link to stock Ref Number 3053

1st January 2013 - Winter Sale Now On 20% OFF - Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Winter Sale - we are offering 20% off the listed price of all our fine and genuine antique desks and antique writing and library tables. Some exceptional desks and tables are now at exceptional prices. For example our Antique Georgian Mahogany Partners Desk (ref 1030) was £5,495 - now only £4,395 and our Antique Dickens Desk by Bulstrode of Cambridge (ref 4032) was £2,250 is now on sale at only £1,800.  We deliver across the UK, throughout the EU and worldwide including the USA, Canada and Australia. Please call or email for more information

7th December 2012 - New Stock Arriving this Week

Several new items of stock arrived this week including possibly one of the best small oak pedestal desks we have seen for some time.  A late Victorian Desk measuring 122cm (48") in width, this fine desk is all original with the exception of a new dark red leather writing surface that we have had fitted.  This desk has a full set of original Hobbs of London brass locks (with key).  Fully panelled this is a truly exceptional desk with a known history - full details (and photo gallery) can be found by following this link Desk Ref 2076 Small Victorian Oak Pedestal Desk

1st December 2012 - Winter Sale Now On - 20% OFF Antique Desks and Writing Tables

Our Winter Sale is now on - we are offering 20% off the listed price of all our fine and genuine antique desks and antique writing and library tables. Except where listed as under or awaiting restoration, all our stock is available for delivery direct to your home or office - it is also available for collection or viewing at our large warehouse in Canterbury, Kent, UK.  We deliver across the UK, throughout the EU and worldwide including the USA, Canada and Australia.  Please call or email for more information.

22nd November - Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten

To help you select your Antique Desk or Antique Writing Table - please refer to our helpful "Guide to Buying an Antique Desk"

When we buy our antique desks and antique writing tables for stock we are always looking for originality and careful ownership - we often buy antique desks and antique writing tables that have been in the same ownership for over 100 years - these desks and tables will be refurbished by us (as necessary) and are then ready to go to their new homes - hopefully for another 100 years. Two examples we have recently had in stock had been in the same ownership from new. The quality of both items was immediately apparent to us when we saw them and all the original fittings (locks, keys, handles etc even the leather tops) were still present - all they needed was a good clean!

They say quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten - certainly true of our fine desks, writing tables and chairs. A  well known London retail store is now selling on the premise that their customers "buy once, pay once" i.e. they buy top quality and then don't have to buy again soon. It is worth paying a little more for something that lasts....

So - our recommendation - pay a little more for something that will last - in the case of one of our Antique Desks or Antique Writing Tables - probably for the next 100 years with a little care !

12th November - Reproduction Desks versus Genuine Antique Desks

There are a great many reproduction and replica desks on the market at the moment - some are fantastic re-creations of old designs, others are less authentic and may have spent many weeks on a container ship from the Far East.  Prices range from the unbelievable cheap (how can they possibly make it and ship it for that price!) to extremely expensive hand made examples.  However,  one thing that they all have in common is that they are not the REAL thing!

We only stock genuine antique desks.  All our desks have history, character and top quality materials and construction made by craftsmen of yesteryear.  They are fully restored where necessary by our highly skilled professional restorers and will last another 100 years or more. What is more, in many instances they are priced at LESS than the modern reproduction versions.  We suppose you could call it the ultimate in re-cycling - or is the new phrase "up-cycling"? - there are no new trees to fell and no carbon emissions from huge container ships - simply a wonderful older item of furniture is being passed on to a new generation for their use and enjoyment.

The one concession we do make to modern design is in the subject of desk chairs and filing systems - we would generally admit (although there are exceptions) that our newly made desk chairs with modern adjustment mechanisms are more comfortable for long periods of use than old antique chairs - and - since we all now seek to file and keep large amounts of paperwork in our homes and offices there are no antique equivalents to the modern filing cabinets and systems that we sell.  Note that both our desk chairs and filing cabinets are made to order and can be made to match our genuine Antique Desks or Antique Writing Tables.

See our "Reasons to Buy an Antique Desk" page

1st November 2012 - Antique Writing Desks

A few words on Antique Writing Desks and how we, at Antiquedesks.net, define this term.  In our definition an antique writing desk is a smaller one piece desk that has special features that directly relate to its main purpose as a functional piece of writing furniture.  Thus a writing desk can be differentiated from a "pedestal desk" (which comes in three pieces) and a "writing table" which has a limited number of drawers etc.  Typically writing desks are of smaller size (may be up to, say, 122cm (48") width - although occasionally larger (ex office) desks are found).

In addition, writing desks are also often to referred to by their type - for example "Davenport Writing Desks", "Dickens Writing Desks", Cylinder or roll-top desks etc.  There are many patent desk designs that fit into this category with all manner of special features, such as hidden compartments, stationery compartments, pen slides, sliding writing surfaces, cupboards and other fitted interior items.  A selection from our previously sold writing desks can been seen on our Antique Writing Desks Archive page on this website.  Further examples can also be seen on our Famous Desk Makers pages.

25th October 2012 - Beware - Antique Wash Stands and Dressing Tables are not the same as Antique Writing Tables and Antique Desks

Something to watch out for.  We have recently come across a number of instances of Victorian wash stands and dressing tables being described by as Antique Writing Tables and Antique Desks.  While we would not disagree that these fine pieces of furniture can be used as writing tables and desks - they were originally designed for a different purpose. 

Taking the wash stand as an example - these tend to be around 122cm (48" wide), made of mahogany or walnut (occasionally oak) and have a low wooded rail or up-stand to the rear and sides.  They are usually unfinished to the rear since they were made to stand against a wall.  With one or two frieze drawers and shapely legs they were made to hold a wash bowl, water jug and other toiletry items.  An original antique writing table may of similar dimensions but will typically have lockable drawers, wheeled castors to legs and a finished back - it will also be more expensive!

A similar story can be told with respect to dressing tables - here even more care is required since there are a great many dressing tables that have been converted to desks over the years.  Typical modifications include the removal of any dressing table superstructure (mirrors etc), the retro-fitting of drawers locks (to some or all of the drawers) and the retro-fitting of a leather writing surface.  Often of one piece construction and sometimes with a "break front" or "bow front" shape, the modified dressing tables tend to be of smaller sizes (122cm or less) and relatively ornate in any decoration they may have.  Again,  a modified dressing table should be significantly less expensive than a genuine original antique desk.

Our advice - check carefully - if in doubt,  give us a call - or send us a photo.

14th October 2012 - Large Six Drawer Library Table

New stock includes a fine quality Large Antique Victorian Six Drawer Mahogany Library Table.  Excellent older red hand tooled leather writing surface.  Full 183cm width by 1117cm deep. 

9th October 2012 - Several new stock items added

New stock includes:  a fine Arts & Crafts Writing Desk by Goodyers London (Ref 4035) and a magnificent solid oak Arts & Crafts Tall Writing Desk or Lectern (Ref 4034).  We also have a number of new additions to our stock of Medium Size Antique Partners and Pedestal Desks - follow the links to see more.

29th September 2012 - Antique Partners Desks and Antique Pedestal Desks

We are often asked to source Antique Partners Desks when in fact the Client actually wants an Antique Pedestal Desk - and to make things even more complicated an Antique Partners Desk is usually a form of Antique Pedestal Desk - confused?  Let us explain.

The term "pedestal desk" refers to the construction of the desk. This type of desk comes in three parts, the top, and two pedestals - these three elements connect to together to form the desk (usually by wooden blocks, sometimes by clips and screws).  Hence the term "twin pedestal desk".  A simple "twin pedestal desk" will have drawers to the front - usually nine, but sometimes eight or eleven.  The nine drawers are split, three to each pedestal and three to the top (along the front - or frieze).  The sides of the desk and the rear will usually be plain polished or panelled.  Depending on the quality of the polishing and panelling the desk may be suitable for use in the centre of a room or better suited to being placed against a wall.  Occasionally a pedestal desk will have cupboards to the front elevation either instead of drawers or concealing drawers behind.

A "partners desk" is usually constructed in the same manner as a "pedestal desk" - BUT - has drawers and/or cupboards to both front AND rear of the desk - so allowing two "partners" to work at the desk at the same time.  By definition partners desks tend to be larger than pedestal desks - particularly in their depth.  (A typical pedestal desk may measure 137cm (54") wide by 61cm (30" deep) whereas a full size partners desk may be up to 183cm (72") wide by 122cm (48") deep.   Thus a partners desk may be properly described as a "twin pedestal partners desk".

Nowadays deciding between a simple pedestal desk and a full blown partners desk is a matter of room size and whether the desk will be sitting in the centre of the room or pushed up against the wall.  For a desk where the reverse side will not be used, or seen, it is debatable whether the extra cost associated with a full partners desk can be justified.

Just to complete the story on "partners desks" - occasionally we come across a "semi-partners desk".  This is a desk with full functioning drawers or cupboards to the front and "dummy" or "decorative" drawer fronts or cupboard doors to the rear..........

15th September 2012 - New Stock Addition - Ref 2075 - Large Oak Pedestal Desk.

Superb quality - rare 11 drawer model.  Excellent provenance.  Will be restored with a new leather writing surface - please click here for more details: Large Antique Oak Pedestal Desk ref 2075

1st September 2012 - Antique Writing Tables and Antique Library Tables

These fine tables are as popular as ever and a great alternative to a traditional partners or pedestal desk - they really do make your room look larger!  Good selection of fine tables now in stock in various sizes and ages - visit our Antique Writing Tables page for more information.