anyone into old furniture or know where to look for information on it ?

nan has an old writing cabinet/display cabinet thing- quite hard to explain but i cant find anything like it when I do a search.
Its dark(ish) wood with claw and ball feet. The middle section is a pull out writing bureau with little crystal inkpots etc and on both sides are what i would describe as display cabinets. Thety are domed in shape and have glass doors. Not sure whether they were originally intended for displaying china or books? Originally belonged to my great grandmother- so wher do i start looking for info?

Any ideas anyone? :)

Go to your local library and borrow a Millers antique guide - you may find something similar in there :)

Daisy

I've emailed a friend of mine who is very much into antiques.  He may be able to recommend a website or even tell you something about the piece of furniture you have described.

What is below the writing bit ? Is it just the legs or are there drawers or cupboards ? It could be a secretaire.

Daisy

Thanks everyone :)

Daisy below the writing bit is another cupbard but with a wooden door and not a glass door
Would be really interested to see what its called and how old it is too.

Hi lel

This is what my friend had to say:

"Hard to say, sounds like a bureau (but with display area it sounds quite unusual).  Probably dates from around turn of century (based on the great grandmother clue) but a lot depends on the make of wood and style etc - difficult without a picture.

I would suggest looking in the miller antique ref furniture books often available in libraries or to buy - failing that, sometimes you can send in digital photo to the auction houses and they can give you an opinion."

I have a miller antique book at home so if I don't forget I'll dig it out tonight and see if I can find anything that sounds similar.

HTH

How tall is it ? And you say it has two display cabinets, so are they like 'towers' either side of the writing bit or are they joined together ?

Daisy

This is a good place to search for similar pieces

http://www.trocadero.com/directory/Antiques.html

Daisy

Daisy
the display sections are on either side of the writing part (which is located in the middle).
They are about 4 foot (ish) in height and are slightly taller than the middle section :)

Is it anything like this?

http://www.mccarneysfurniture.com/Images/Display_Cabinets/A128.html

P.S. I mean the just layout of it, sounds like your is much older than this one. :)

Its similair - ish :)
Thats the closest Ive been able to find anyway Daisy :)
The display cabinets are at the side like that one pictured but they are higher than the centre piece/writing part and they are rounded at the top. Sort of domed.
The top of the writing centre piece is also flat. The feet are claw and ball and the wood is darker.

You could try ringing Christie's or Sotheby's - I'm sure someone there could point you in the right direction.