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[LadyOnArooftop]

Great Secretaire/Bureau.. s it yours ?

It's been in the family for a good many years. I think these roll top writing desks were used mostly on ships and in office settings. In some distant past, a poor clerk must have spilt a bottle on ink on this one, it's since been varnished over. I shone a light on the stain to highlight it, but it's distorted the Image. Father actually did a good varnish job on it.

 

[Kev45]

The ink stain adds to the Edwardian charm and adds authenticity as a working piece, and ink is a bastard to remove anyway because obviously wood is so porous and by the time the poor clerk reacted the damage was already done. I don't know, but I suspect the tambour cover was also designed to keep thieving hands at bay (while the clerk was getting a right old bollocking for spilling ink on it).

It sounds a bit corny but if only furniture could speak and the tales it could tell.

 

[Not_Fred_Honest]

The best thing to do is leave it alone.

You see a lot of fake "old" wooden furniture coming up at auction. Dealers are looking for signs of use like ink stains and other signs of long term use. If its too perfect... well they will think its a just another Chinese knock off.