subject: How Can I Tell If A Desk Has Any Real Age? [print this page] There are many types and styles of antique desks and vintage desks. It must be at least one hundred years old to qualify as an antique desk. Any desk over thirty and under one hundred years of age is considered to be vintage. Perhaps the desk has been in the family and handed down through generations. If this is the case, then age will be easier to authenticate. Below are a few tips for use in determining the age of a desk or other furniture. Finding a reputable appraiser to inspect it and give an opinion is the easiest way. A good appraiser will ferret out fakes and inform their client of the value of the piece they inspect. Sometimes what is thought to be a desk of little value turns out to be very valuable indeed. Size, age, and the quality of a vintage or an antique desk will determine its worth. Try one or two of the following methods to settle on an approximate age of the piece.
Place the desk in a well-lit area, with the back visible. Bright daylight is best. If the desk is too heavy to move, turn it toward the light and use a strong flashlight. Look closely for any identifying manufacturing or makers marks pertaining to date made and materials used. Check under the desk or behind drawers, too.
Providing there is still no available data, do a little personal sleuthing. Most wood shrinks, over a period of time, because of moisture loss. As the wood shrinks, proportions may become somewhat irregular. Edges and legs may not be very straight anymore. Take a few measurements and compare the results. Check the evenness of the legs (shrinkage). The most used areas of the wood, such as the front edges and around the drawer pulls, become discoloured from the everyday contact with skin oils and other contaminants. Worn corners and edges are also signs of age. The hardware, such as drawer pulls, hinges, nails, and other metals, will not be shiny if they have any age on them. Metal dulls and tarnishes with time and may even become almost black. Workmanship style can also be an indicator of age, as in joinery of the desk assembly and other artistry, such as carving, and whether it was done by hand or machine. Feel the surface of the wood for cracks or uneven textures. This tends to happen when wood ages. Refinishing the piece can harm any value it may have, so take care in this area.
Gain more help in determining whether pieces are vintage or antique desks online or the public library. Try taking a couple of photos of the piece to an appraiser or two to get their input.
