I've never seen anything like this - it may be home-made, possibly post-war. It
looks as though it's been varnished with polyeurghothane. Any ideas?
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An old oak bureau
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Bill Sikes
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- Joined: Fri Aug 20, 2004 2:21 am
An old oak bureau
It looks like a 1950s drinks cabinet. :-2
An old oak bureau
1920 writing bureau, ought to be beeswaxed if you strip it down and rewax it. I like it.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left. ... Hold no regard for unsupported opinion.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious. [Fred Wedlock, "The Folker"]
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious. [Fred Wedlock, "The Folker"]
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
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Bill Sikes
- Posts: 5515
- Joined: Fri Aug 20, 2004 2:21 am
An old oak bureau
spot wrote: 1920 writing bureau, ought to be beeswaxed if you strip it down and rewax it. I like it.
Do you think it's been varnished? This is a popular way of spoiling old furniture,
not that this is particularly old.
Edit:
I'm not at all sure about this. I havent seen this odd design before, only that
reflected in '40s monstrosities with glazed doors. Not sure I want it, really.
Do you think it's worth £30?
Do you think it's been varnished? This is a popular way of spoiling old furniture,
not that this is particularly old.
Edit:
I'm not at all sure about this. I havent seen this odd design before, only that
reflected in '40s monstrosities with glazed doors. Not sure I want it, really.
Do you think it's worth £30?
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Patsy Warnick
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- Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2006 12:53 am
An old oak bureau
It's different - unfortunately it's been varnished, you'd want the natural patina - that would've been pretty. I'd agree with @ 1920 perhaps a little earlier, home made. Did you buy this? Do you collect furniture like this? just curious.
Patsy
Patsy
An old oak bureau
I'd have said not, just from the photo. They did gloss these things up back then.
Take out a drawer, have a look at the dovetailing along the sides. The front panel and the side will have meshing teeth to hold them together and it'll be internally pinned and glued. Are the teeth on the front panel far narrower than the slots they fit into, or is it like the shape of battlements on a castle - what I'd call "square toothed" if you ever used an oscilloscope. That latter means it was machine-cut, which I'd expect it to be, and puts it after 1860. I'd be very surprised if it were earlier than 1880 or later than 1940. The 1920s is when most things like that were being made.
edit: £30 is a snip if you have a use for it, of course. If it's just going to clutter a room without function then it's not for you - these things need to be useful as well as decorative.
Take out a drawer, have a look at the dovetailing along the sides. The front panel and the side will have meshing teeth to hold them together and it'll be internally pinned and glued. Are the teeth on the front panel far narrower than the slots they fit into, or is it like the shape of battlements on a castle - what I'd call "square toothed" if you ever used an oscilloscope. That latter means it was machine-cut, which I'd expect it to be, and puts it after 1860. I'd be very surprised if it were earlier than 1880 or later than 1940. The 1920s is when most things like that were being made.
edit: £30 is a snip if you have a use for it, of course. If it's just going to clutter a room without function then it's not for you - these things need to be useful as well as decorative.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left. ... Hold no regard for unsupported opinion.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious. [Fred Wedlock, "The Folker"]
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious. [Fred Wedlock, "The Folker"]
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
-
Bill Sikes
- Posts: 5515
- Joined: Fri Aug 20, 2004 2:21 am
An old oak bureau
Patsy Warnick wrote: It's different - unfortunately it's been varnished, you'd want the natural patina - that would've been pretty. I'd agree with @ 1920 perhaps a little earlier, home made.
I'll have to have a look at the thing.
Patsy Warnick wrote: Did you buy this? Do you collect furniture like this? just curious.
Patsy
I didn't buy it, but have been offered it for fifty quid, which IMO is too much. I
don't collect furniture like this, but wondered whether I could pass it on.
I'll have to have a look at the thing.
Patsy Warnick wrote: Did you buy this? Do you collect furniture like this? just curious.
Patsy
I didn't buy it, but have been offered it for fifty quid, which IMO is too much. I
don't collect furniture like this, but wondered whether I could pass it on.
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Bill Sikes
- Posts: 5515
- Joined: Fri Aug 20, 2004 2:21 am
An old oak bureau
spot wrote: I'd have said not, just from the photo. They did gloss these things up back then.
This looks rather thick and clumsy - perhaps the 'photo doesn't help, or the finger
marks.
spot wrote: Take out a drawer, have a look at the dovetailing along the sides. The front panel and the side will have meshing teeth to hold them together and it'll be internally pinned and glued. Are the teeth on the front panel far narrower than the slots they fit into, or is it like the shape of battlements on a castle - what I'd call "square toothed" if you ever used an oscilloscope. That latter means it was machine-cut, which I'd expect it to be, and puts it after 1860. I'd be very surprised if it were earlier than 1880 or later than 1940. The 1920s is when most things like that were being made.
Thanks, I'm just about au fait with dovetails (and have seen an oscilloscope,
but a long time ago!)
spot wrote: edit: £30 is a snip if you have a use for it, of course. If it's just going to clutter a room without function then it's not for you - these things need to be useful as well as decorative.
I'll have to see it, then. Not sure it's my thing, but it may be someone's!
This looks rather thick and clumsy - perhaps the 'photo doesn't help, or the finger
marks.
spot wrote: Take out a drawer, have a look at the dovetailing along the sides. The front panel and the side will have meshing teeth to hold them together and it'll be internally pinned and glued. Are the teeth on the front panel far narrower than the slots they fit into, or is it like the shape of battlements on a castle - what I'd call "square toothed" if you ever used an oscilloscope. That latter means it was machine-cut, which I'd expect it to be, and puts it after 1860. I'd be very surprised if it were earlier than 1880 or later than 1940. The 1920s is when most things like that were being made.
Thanks, I'm just about au fait with dovetails (and have seen an oscilloscope,
but a long time ago!)
spot wrote: edit: £30 is a snip if you have a use for it, of course. If it's just going to clutter a room without function then it's not for you - these things need to be useful as well as decorative.
I'll have to see it, then. Not sure it's my thing, but it may be someone's!
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Patsy Warnick
- Posts: 4567
- Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2006 12:53 am
An old oak bureau
I had to take another look at it. I don't understand the top - it curves - looks like a piece of plywood - perhaps that's why it was varnished. Side cabinets look like kitchen cabinets . Looks awkward. I'd pass on purchasing - somethings not right.
Patsy
Patsy
An old oak bureau
I Agree with Patsy something not right about it. 
Front leg are different then the back legs, looks like the back ones came off at one time, or the other way around not sure. But it is FUNKY looking in a cool way. If you like it buy it, maybe get the price down a bit. 
Good luck..
Front leg are different then the back legs, looks like the back ones came off at one time, or the other way around not sure. But it is FUNKY looking in a cool way. If you like it buy it, maybe get the price down a bit. Good luck..ALOHA!!
MOTTO TO LIVE BY:
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, champagne in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming.
WOO HOO!!, what a ride!!!"
MOTTO TO LIVE BY:
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, champagne in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming.
WOO HOO!!, what a ride!!!"
An old oak bureau
spot wrote: 1920 writing bureau, ought to be beeswaxed if you strip it down and rewax it. I like it.
Just wanted to say I LOVE your 'tag' line!:wah:
Just wanted to say I LOVE your 'tag' line!:wah:
~Quoth the Raven, Nevermore!~