Campaign Style Desk

By mcpheel1991, 5 April, 2022
Description

Found this "campaign style" desk and restored it since it was covered in many coats of stain and veneer had completely failed.

Here is what i found:

  • The top was made from an old cedar blanket chest (dados for vertical dividers, signs of hand cut dovetails on the underside. It was edge banded with 1/2" thick walnut strips, had the perimeter veneered with mahogany and a piece of red vinyl inlaid in the center. I replaced the Veneer with fresh mahogany veneer that was stained to colour match and replaced vinyl with 4 oz black cow leather.
  • desk carcus was solid mahogany with inlaid stripes in the fronts of the front legs. Look like plastic inlays like you would see on a guitar rosette.
  • Drawers were cedar with mahogany vaneer fronts. Machine cut dovetails and signs that the drawer bottoms were once lined with green felt. I had to stain the drawer fronts since the veneers were not exact colour matches. Drawers are likely not original.
  • Non-Magnetic real brass campaign hardware. Looked to be sand cast (texture on inside and sharp corners (not radiused) - Side handles look to be hand made, bend brass bars, hand machined nuts and bolts with possibly purchased escutcheons
  • Brass casters on each leg, hard to tell when they were made, likely purchased and added at the same time as the brass hardware which i also suspect was not part of the original desk but added at a later date
  • I did not polish off any of the patina on the brass, just lightly washed the dirt off and scraped some wood filer out of the flathead hardware slots that were left from a previous restoration job
  • Found 1946 and 85 scratched onto the back of the top. Indicated that it was made in 1946 in its current form in 1946 but refinished in 85. No indication of when the original desk carcus and original cedar chest were constructed. I may have devalued it but i couldn't help but to scratch 2022 next to these since i am now part of the desks story. I also wrote in pen a little message on the underside of the top for future restoration enthusiasts

Note: I wish i could upload more than just 10 pictures... 

Category
Furniture
Medium
Mahogany
Brass
Cedar
Walnut
Distinguishing marks
1946 and 85 scratched on the back
Condition
Excellent
Date Period
pre-1946
History
I bought it off a lady who said it was left in the basement of the house she purchased. She did not know the history of the piece.

- Looks to be made from multiple original pieces. Someone scratched 1946 in the piece which was likely when the pieces all came together to form this desk. Brass could have been added at this time.
- Some signs that it was painted white once upon a time. It has likely been restored and refurbished by multiple individuals of varying skill levels. I have restored it back to its original state to the best of my ability while preserving patina and signs of age as much as possible.
Price Paid (If known)
I paid $150 plus $50 of veneer and new leather
For Sale?
No
Photos