We have an old secretary desk that belonged to my husband's grandmother. I've been trying to figure out if it is an antique or just an old piece of furniture that I can refinish. The only marking on it that indicates who may have made it is "JWJ Winfield Kans". It is hand written in what looks like black marker. I haven't had any luck finding info online. I was hoping that one of you moms might know something about old furniture or at least be able to point me in the right direction as to who to talk to. Thanks in advance for any help. I have posted some pics on flickr, here is the link. http://www.flickr.com/photos/chellanbran/
What ever you do, do not refinish til you have all the information straight go to a good dealer with the desk if possible, they should be able to tell you.
that truly is a beautiful peice. i dont know where to refinish the peice but i would say yes. go ahead and refinish it. if you would enjoy it more. being a family peice i wouldnt think you planed on selling it anyway. i personally would refinish it knowing full well it would devalue it but you would enjoy it more. good luck hope you find out...
Good morning M.. I looked at the pictures that you posted and noticed that the drawers were dove tailed. This is an old and very good way of putting drawers together. I would not refinish the desk until you have had it professionally evaluated. If you refinish it you will ruin the value of it. Find an antique dealer in your area and have the desk appraised. It will be worth your while. The desk is beautiful.
L.
Updated
Hi M.. You have really peaked my curiousity with your desk. I google searched JWJ and found the name James Weldon Johnson. I would recommend that you have the desk professionaly looked at and try to find more information about JWJ. There is also a place in Kansas called Winfield. I am Canadian so I can't help you too much but good luck and let us know how far you got with your search.
L.
In today's world, an old piece of furniture is an antique :) It's not like it used to be twenty years ago when there was criteria that had to met in order for it to be an antique. It is amazing what is listed as an antique on Craigslist that is really just junky old furniture. Most pieces won't have markings unless they were manufactured by a prominent maker and considered high end (expensive). My father and grandmother had a antique refinishing business and sold them at First Monday in Canton many, many moons ago. I am somewhat familiar with identifying whether a piece is antique or not. My home is nothing but antiques from a claw foot round oak table to a recliner (nothing like today's type of recliner) to an old library table. Your desk will depend on the style of the piece (old english/queen anne etc.) 1950's art deco pieces are now considered antiques. It is easy to tell a reproduction - look under the bottom and inside the drawers. If they are pretty and have a finished look to them, they are not antiques. A picture would be helpful to be able to tell the difference. I have seen several secretary desks, all types and sizes. You can google 'antique secretary desk' and find several sites that have multiple types w/ pictures to help you place the style and era. I did that with the high-chair I have - I thought it was a rare style but I found out it is quite common, but it is still an antique none the less. I don't know if you can post a pic if you send it to me in a message, but if you can, I might be able to help you figure this out.
The general rule of thumb for antique classification is if it over 50 yrs. old it is considered an antique. Which means I am!
T. C.
I think it's called a secretary, and those seem to be initials as well as the city/state (Kansas.) That might be the name of the builder and where it was built. It does look old, though, possibly pre-civil war. The decorative elements are lovely. The possibility that the markings are black marker could indicate that much later marking of the known cabinetry artist , perhaps something happened to the original markings or it was in the family, made by a relative or family friend, so they already knew who made it when they decided to mark it. Or it may just be the name of someone who owned it.
Another possibility is that it is an antique reproduction, but I don't think it is. It could be worth anything from a few hundred to a few thousand. I would get some gentle wood polish and just polish it up. Don't refinish it yourself, if you must, take it to have it professionally done.
See if your library has this book "Antique Desk book Encyclopedia of Desks Mark Bridge" or another similar one to get more info.
Do you have a picture of the secretary desk? Is the desk top hinged or does 2 boards slip out to hold the desk top? I might be able to help you ...
This looks antique to me. Like others said, it has that dovetail design that is kind of a telltale clue. It also has some markings, and the key holes, that would suggest that it's antique. This kind of detail isn't something you see much anymore. I would definitely get it appraised!
I know all about Winfield, Kansas - it is the neighboring town to my home town of Arkansas City. I can not think of any significance to the initials JWJ. I'm guessing that the original owner put his initials on the desk and then it was sold or passed off to your husband's grandmother.
With the dove-tailed drawers, I agree with Lynn and would have it appraised. I think that it was home-made by someone who was quite good and creative, not by a manufacturer so it may have value, but not tons. That being said, if you watch antiques roadshow you'll know that sometimes you're surprised! I think the handwritten marking could be a previous owner in Winfield Kansas. (Not sure why people are responding without clicking on your flickr link to see the pictures.)
