Buying antique desks – what to look for

BE CAREFUL when buying at auction. Restoration can be expensive so if you’re bidding on antique pieces be sure that the things that matter work effectively, like drawers. Old desks have often taken heavy traffic, particularly if they have been unloved in an office. If all the drawer runners are worn out, or the locks are broken and the finish is chipped and shabby, you might want to take stock before taking the plunge.

DESKS ARE TYPICALLY INSET with leather tops but they are often stained, scratched and shabby. You can have these professionally replaced but you can also buy off-the-shelf gilt-tooled leather insets and fit them yourself.

WITH MORE PEOPLE WORKING FROM HOME and trends set to remain that way, a greater number of people have had to designate space to work from and this can involve fitting in a desk. Of course, there are plenty of modern high-street, flat-pack work stations and desks which can be crammed into a spare room, but take time to think about your environment and introduce some style. Working in a family environment might also be difficult but use a desk as a multi-functional piece and don’t be scared to go antique. Mix and match for a more sustainable approach.

A DESK CAN BE A PSYCHOLOGICALLY potent piece of furniture. It can signify wealth, success and creativity – but negativity too, particularly in a work environment. My own very 1970s vision of banking and high-powered company officials comes to mind, with the cliché of powerful men sitting behind their large Georgian-style mahogany desks inset with green or red leather tops – and firing more lowly workers! With major advances in office design and office politics, styles have changed and, now much less fashionable, old antique-style ‘power desks’ often appear at auction for very little money.

MAKE SURE YOU PICK A CHAIR that suits your desk. Pairing the two elements stylistically might need a compromise. Ensure the height and leg space are good for you. Constantly sitting in a poor position at the wrong height is all too easy to fall into. This is a common problem with antique items, which are not always ergonomically designed. Choose what’s right for you.