Among other future projects, I have an old walnut cylinder desk that needs a lot of repair and restoration. It lost its legs sometime around the 1870s – the ghastly pedestals on which it sits were dated on the inside. Originally it had turned legs roughly 2 1/2 to 3 inches where they were cut off. I know the history of this item for the last 50 or so years plus I found the signature and inscription for the pedestals. I found no maker marks anywhere in the desk. My intent is to put this desk back together, with legs and then some sort of stretcher system to stabilize the legs and desk. The upper structure is too heavy for small spindly legs – which it probably had before. So, is there any help out there. Has anyone seen a similar desk with legs? Any suggestions?
Replies
I would start looking at antique furniture books, and auction catologs I thing you could find something that would help you that way.
Troy
Troy, thank you for the response. I have been the route of the libraries, museums, antique and auction sales as well as writing to professionals. I even got into looking into old production catalogs, whenever they were available. My hope is that there is a twin out there (the great eureka) or something similar or some helpful ideas. Having just installed the internet, I am making the rounds of antique dealer websites as well. I have put this desk far enough out on the horizon to give me time to do the research and design work - but help is always appreciated. Thanks again. Ted
I have restored 3-4 walnut cylinder desks. Two had bookcase tops. They all had cabinet bases with doors or drawers, no legs.
Can you see any indication of what might have been there originally?
Steve Nearman
Fredericksburg, VA
The Master's Touch
http://FurnitureRepair.net
Dear Steve, Thank you for the reply. I have some old photos showing the bottoms of the corners and the evidence of the top of a turned leg. I will either make a digital picture or try to find and scan those. I also have pictures of the "pedestal boxes" that came with the desk. They are boxes of the right size - but nothing in the way of a match for the rest of the desk. One is signed on the inside of the compression fit cubby hole panels by an engineer sargent at USMA Military Academy - dated 1870s. More to follow. Thank you again for the reply. Ted
Steve, If this works - the computer that is - the attachment should be a picture showing the corner of the desk and the remnants of a turned leg. Again thank your for the response. Ted
By all the photos I see it is definitely Eastlake c. 1860-80. There was something round there at some point. I don't see that anything was mounted at the round mark, just a color difference. A round leg of that size would have been doweled in. Or is that a solid block which was cut off? Can't tell by the photo. Are all the corners the same?
Maybe this photo will help you.
Steve Nearman
Fredericksburg, VA
The Master''s Touch
http://FurnitureRepair.net
Steve, I have attached two more photos. The first shows another view of another corner- this one protrudes from the corner block more that that in the prior photo. The corners are two pieces, looks like a glued up corner that was mortised for the carcass and then turned for the leg until leg met saw. My second photo while not the best, shows both of the boxes that served as pedestals. They are walnut and that ends any similarity. Access to these boxes is thru sliding doors which are removed by pulling towards the person sitting at the desk. Inside one are small cubbies, and the other for larger ledgers. On the hidden side of the compression fitted cubby side panels, there is an inscription by an engineer Sergeant at the Military Academy, I believe in the 1870s. I have looked at a lot of east lake stuff, and books by the box full and have seen nothing close to this. This desk is roughly 56 inches wide and 30+ inches front to back. There is walnut burl on the cylinder and all drawer fronts. Also some lighter contrasting burls on the side panels and smaller applied panels. The two pictures in my return message to Planesaw show the desk open and closed - a better rendering of the drawer structure below the writing surface and the inside. Thanks again for the help.. I will dig into east lake again - all contributions cheerfully accepted. ted
Steve, here is another view of one of the "pedestals" that supported the desk when I acquired It. Ted
Alan, This is my second attempt to post this response. I lost the other in this blinking box. This is a new computer and it deserves a second chance. Anyway, attached, if it goes will be two other pictures of the desk. One open and the other closed and both in the what an auctioneer would call "old dirt" These were done several years ago during the first cleaning. Again, thank you for inquiring. Ted
Vtwoodchip,
Wow. Great potential. Think you'll get it stored by this weekend? :-)
Post some photos when you get it finished. I like old desks and have simply had to quit letting them follow me home.
Keep us posted.
Alan - planesaw
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