My grandmother recently passed away, and we've been working to clean out her home.
This is a writing desk that she had, and according to some relatives, it actually originally belonged to her father in law (my great grandfather), although I don't know when he got it.
There is a sticker inside the lower compartment that says Globe Wernicke, D 12 1/4, Grade 299. I think it said something about Cincinatti or Cleveland. I don't currently have the desk, as I had to return home. But I will be inheriting it, and it should be delivered around February.
According to my limited research (just googled a little bit about the company), and given that it was my great grandfather's originally, I'm guessing it was likely built sometime in the late 1800s or early 1900s. The company seems to have gone out of business by 1955.
it looks similar to this one. The top opens up the same way and has all those neat little shelves, but as you can see, it doesn't have the glass front on the bottom portion like the one in this link. http://hampshireantiquefurniture.com/2012/11/rare-globe-wernicke-antiqu….
Is there any way to get more specific info about when/where this was built and purchased? Maybe around 1910 as the other similar model looks to be? Also, about what value should I use for insurance purposes? I am not interested in selling this piece, and would like to keep it in the family. I just want to know as much about it as possible about it, and have it properly insured.
Thanks to anyone who might know anything! If you need any further info, I can provide it once I actually have the desk back in my possession.
Re: Globe Wernicke Writing Desk and Storage Beneath
This is a very nice bookcase/desk set. It was made by the Globe Wernicke Co. of Cincinnati. On the label you will see the word Standard unit. The Standard style of the bookcases were produced between 1900 and 1922. They quit making the Standard style in 1922. The desk is a slant front or drop front style with legs. The bookcase under the desk is call a cupboard bookcase. The two pieces are fairly rare and getting hard to find. The Grade of 299 on the label in the bookcase denotes its wood type, finish and color as it came from the factory in Cincinnati. Grade 299 stands for: quartered sawn figured oak, deep rich golden finish, highly polished with brass oxidized hardware. The bottom piece with the drawer is called the base and supports the weight of the desk and bookcase. There should also be a label on the top cross member of the base with similar information on it as the label in the bookcase. It was installed to the cross member at the factory with 4 nails to hold it in place. Sometimes these labels have been torn or ripped off during moving etc. Hopefully yours will be there. I bought one very similar to yours about a year ago. It also had a bookcase with leaded glass on top of the desk. I paid around $1200 for it. Antique dealers are going to ask around $2000 for them. I think its a little high right now but not saying they won't get that price. I know of one bookcase/desk like this an antique dealer is asking $1800 for. Its been for sale for over a year now and has still not sold. The prices I use (right or wrong) for these individual oak piesces are: Desk - $500 to $800, Cupboard Bookcase - $500 to $600, Base with drawer - $250. Prices vary with the condition of the original finish on each piece and overall condition. Most collectors want originality so they are looking for original finish, original glass, and original hardware on the piece. The 299 Grade is a very desirable finish for people because of the color and quarter sawn figured oak appearance. Again a very nice bookcase/desk.
One more thing when you move the bookcase/desk, be sure to remove the legs from the desk. They are very easy to break. Probably why many of these desks do not have the original legs on them. They can be removed very easily from the desk before moving.
Here is a nice link with a lot more information about Globe Wernicke and the bookcases they made. https://deepdoodoo.wordpress.com
Re: Globe Wernicke Writing Desk and Storage Beneath
Globe Wernicke is best known for their stacking "Barrister Book Cases" made during the turn of the 19th Century. Drop front desks of this type do date from the last years of the 19th century and virtually every major furniture manufacturer produced a line of them in oak or maple, the maple versions often with a mahogany dyed finish.
The Globe Wernicke desks do often sell at a bit of a premium compared to examples by lesser known makers, but I seldom see one like this actually sell for over $1200.00 these days, comparable ones go at auction for about $500.00.