Antique desks are famous for their variety so it is rather a tough job to know all about them to start with. Antique desks are not only functional but also add elegance and beauty to a room.
There is a popular desk known affectionately as the secretary with such antique value and quality that many seek after it. It has hidden spaces and mysterious shelves with a flat top piece when closed. It sits elegantly with a slight angle to the top flat wood. These are heavy and large units of furniture.
Secretary Desks
The more recent desks produced are smaller and lighter for easy portability. The older ones were heavier and one solid piece to last for more than a hundred years. These had many spaces, drawers, hidden holes that they can store so many variety of useful desk items.
The next popular and famous item of antique nature is the roll top desk. The roll top also has many hidden cubbyholes, spaces and drawers. The main distinction is the rolling nature of closing the top. The secretary cannot be closed if items are on top but the roll top will work around the objects and close.
The other more common but expensive antique desks are the large, wooden and ornate kind. These are most popular for their design, beauty of carved ends and edges. They are not secretary or roll top types but plain old flat top desks. These are expensive because of their look, elegance and beauty.
The older antique desk were made by hand and worked on with details to look beautiful but heavy and to last longer for about 100 years. The newer desks are made assembly line and made for storage of computer and telephone cables and lighter for such needs. When you buy an antique desk you should be aware that they are not flexible for today's needs.
There are many in the market with less expensive price tag if you are looking for one for your home and not with an intention to sell for profit. Look for strong joints and good structure. Check the drawers by opening and closing to know their general condition. There may be minor blemishes that you can live with.
Antique desk of old are not anymore useful for today's technologically challenged work place. But you can buy one if you like it and want to add taste and tradition to your office or home. This will certainly enhance the look and your reputation for tradition and elegance.