Any furniture experts?

Saver-Rob

I've acquired an old desk which dates to 1938. Its extremely solid, heavy and large. I have attached a couple of photo's.

Would anybody be able to point me in the right direction to somewhere that could tell me a little more about the item, such as what it is made from and any potenital value? I am also interested in finding out more about the maker - 'Wake & Dean' though the information I can find is very limited. The nearest I could find to it on the internet was on this ebay link: http://cgi.ebay.fr/BUREAU-1938-MARQUE-%22WAKE-AND-DEAN.LTD%22-EN-CHENE_W0QQitemZ150392969928QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20091129?IMSfp=TL091129212001r30187

Hope somebody can offer some advice....

ormus

google for "utility furniture".
it may have been made for the armed forces or maybe the civil service. ie the education dept.
i have certainly plenty of very similar items in the 50s/60s.

im not sure, i doubt they are worth that much now.

munkypuzzel

The grain looks like oak,

Saver-Rob

Thanks both.

ormus - you are spot on. This was formerly in an army barracks which later converted to another Government building/Civil Service.

munkypuzzel - you are not the first person to say its oak. Thanks!

I am planning on cleaning it up a bit and using it as a dining table. It would sit 6 very comfortably and its a real solid item. Will definitely need a table cloth for this one though!!

paddypaws101

I have a smaller similar item that I use as a desk in my office. I rubbed it down and waxed it and the wood came up lovely.
Every one has different taste of course....but I think covering it with a modern table cloth would be a dis-service. I bet it would glow with a bit of elbow grease!

Saver-Rob

paddypaws101 wrote: »

I have a smaller similar item that I use as a desk in my office. I rubbed it down and waxed it and the wood came up lovely.
Every one has different taste of course....but I think covering it with a modern table cloth would be a dis-service. I bet it would glow with a bit of elbow grease!

Problem is the other half does not see anything nice in it so it was a compromise to even get it in the house!!!!!!!!!!