SA1794 Posted November 12, 2012 Share #1 Posted November 12, 2012 I picked up this field desk today. Hard to see, but the front of the desk is stenciled - I will have to do some forensic photography to see what is says. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BelligerentBlue Posted November 12, 2012 Share #2 Posted November 12, 2012 Nice find. I'm not sure the era, but I'd love to find something like that in my searches! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluehawk Posted November 12, 2012 Share #3 Posted November 12, 2012 I picked up this field desk today. Hard to see, but the front of the desk is stenciled - I will have to do some forensic photography to see what is says. That's a nice looking piece you have there. If at all possible, would you post photo(s) of one of the drawers to show joinery and other detail? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack's Son Posted November 12, 2012 Share #4 Posted November 12, 2012 If at all possible, would you post photo(s) of one of the drawers to show joinery and other detail? GREAT suggestion!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fstop61 Posted November 12, 2012 Share #5 Posted November 12, 2012 Looks pretty good to me---take a few minutes and do a Google search and compare the construction, wood, and size with known examples. You just might have something there. Nice find! please keep us posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SA1794 Posted November 12, 2012 Author Share #6 Posted November 12, 2012 That's a nice looking piece you have there. If at all possible, would you post photo(s) of one of the drawers to show joinery and other detail? Thanks for the comments. I had to leave the desk in MA because it was too big to fit in the car with all our luggage. I am going to be out-of-commission for a while due to rotator cuff surgery. I will take some pics when I get back to MA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluehawk Posted November 12, 2012 Share #7 Posted November 12, 2012 Thanks for the comments. I had to leave the desk in MA because it was too big to fit in the car with all our luggage. I am going to be out-of-commission for a while due to rotator cuff surgery. I will take some pics when I get back to MA. Wonderful. The wood, joinery and construction will distinguish a fake pretty much instantly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spearhead Posted November 13, 2012 Share #8 Posted November 13, 2012 I'm certainly not an authority on much of anything, but I have a desk that is very similar. The front of my field desk read something like "Medical Dept". Unfortunately, I don't have any pics and the desk is currently in another state. The drawers I think were some sort of dove tail of light wood. I remember the drawers would squeak when pulling them out. My desk is a deep reddish color. I always thought it was from around WWI period. Nice desk and it appears to be in a better condition than the one I own. J.R. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SA1794 Posted November 13, 2012 Author Share #9 Posted November 13, 2012 OK - found a pic showing the drawer construction. Fingers crossed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluehawk Posted November 13, 2012 Share #10 Posted November 13, 2012 Thank you for the photo. I'm seeing some surfaces that appear to be artificially aged and, I cannot be certain 100% - but from the images above it looks like the secondary wood (i.e. the wood inside the drawers) is newish, applied to an older looking drawer front. That may be because the sides/bottoms were replaced some time much later than the original chest was made or from some other cause. The nails used make me wonder a little since I would have expected that joinery to be dovetail or some other kind. I'm very interested to learn what someone else may observe because your chest is quite intriguing. I attach here for reference an outright replica officer's field desk. I don't know enough about usage of such furnishings during that war to know whether or not anything like it was ever actually built. Source link: http://civilwarwoodr...mpFurniture.php Then, here are a couple examples of era drawer joinery, including a finger joint and a typical dovetail which may have been the more likely, aside from an elaborate knapp joint which would seem improbable for average military field furniture. Source link: http://acn.liveauctioneers.com/index.php/columns-and-international/furniture-specific/7666-furniture-specific-fingers-a-scallops-the-non-dovetailed-drawer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbirdismypride Posted November 14, 2012 Share #11 Posted November 14, 2012 I would have to agree with Bluehawk. The drawers look like they have either been heavily repaired or replaced all together. I also would have expected to see dovetailing on the corners of the drawer instead of the simple construction and nails. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now