Although there is no actual scientific research to back this up, I submit that 3 in 5 houses in New England has a Governor Winthrop desk in some form. We have one that has been through 3 generations in our family: my grandmother used it first with it’s factory finish, my mother painted it white and I used it, I stripped off the white paint and restored the mahogany and my daughter uses it. And we’ve all loved it.
Why the Winthrop Desk is a Classic
What’s not to love, this desk packs a lot of function in a tiny footprint. Drawers underneath for storage, a fold down desk with a pigeonhole organizer. Some have the glass fronted shelves on the top for safely displaying pretties. A lot of usefulness, not a lot of space.
Winthrop Desk History
John Winthrop was one of the Puritan founders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the colonists responsible for Boston and other settlements in the area. Winthrop served as governor of the fledgling colony for a goodly number of years in the first half of the 1600s; influential then, remembered now in the North Shore town that bears his name. His name also lives on for much beloved slant top desk, but not because he designed one or was presented with one or used one. According to antiques experts Helaine Fendelman and Joe Rosson, the desk was named after him by the Winthrop Furniture Company of Boston in 1924, nearly about 275 years after his passing.
Kovel‘s dates this desk style, which is also called a slant-top, drop front, fall front or secretary desk, back to the 18th century, usually with American Queen Anne or Chippendale design. In the Colonial Revival period of the early 1900s, reproductions were also made by the Maddox Table Co. of Jamestown, NY, according to Anne McCollom writing for creators.com. By the 1930s, the Winthrop desk was an official decor trend, made by furniture companies from coast to coast. Most of these pieces will have a makers stamp, label or tag on the side of the top drawer.
The desk comes in a variety of forms: with the straight block front or serpentine ox bow front on the drawers; with the cabinet or bookcase on top and without it; and with Queen Anne or Chippendale legs and escutcheons.
Although the antique old desks still command substantial sums, the reproductions from the 1920s, not so much. Although this disappoints must sellers, the retail value in New England is somewhere between $50 and a few hundred depending on style and condition.
The Winthrop Desk Today
These desks continue to add form and function to homes. True antiques by known makers are prized by collectors. The hidden gem antique old desks are out there, though. Antique secretary desks that have fallen into disrepair should be professionally restored–an amateur job can destroy the value of the piece.
As for the newer 1920s-1930s pieces made for the commercial furniture market, while they have style and grace, the sheer number of them that were produced mean you can choose to restore as a DIY project or paint without too much guilt. These pieces have lived long useful lives and often need TLC for their finishes. Veneered pieces might have loose or missing pieces (hey, if your glue was nearly 100 years old, you’d need repairs too). Pieces may be sun faded on one side from decades of standing next to a window. Or, if they were painted back in the 1960s or 1970s, the paint might be shabby and not in a good way, so it’s time to strip off the paint and refinish the wood.
Modern inspirations abound…
Updated painted Governor Winthrop desk by Mary Maxine on Studio Paint Design.
Traditionalists will appreciate the natural wood finish of this secretary desk as styled by Christie of Three Pixie Lane.
For more information about Governor Winthrop Desks:
Antiques conservator John Mark Power has fabulous process photos from his restoration of a 1930s mahogany desk.
The Rockford (IL) Public Library has advertisements for desks from the 1920s.
Need help figuring out how old a desk is? Real or Repro has some helpful tips for knowing if your desk is antique old or more modern (but still vintage) reproduction.
And, to restore your faith in humanity, a news story about a man who bought a Governor Winthrop for $40 at auction, found $127K in bonds inside, and returned them to the family…who really needed the money…
If you like vintage classics, and we think you do, you might like our post on blue willow china.
What does it take to be vintage classic? It has to be something that at the time it was designed was an instant favorite, maybe even a trend, because of its design and/or function. It has to be something that all these years later, is still loved and appreciated. And sometimes it’s so loved that it’s been reproduced to meet current demand. (Don’t get us started on that, vintage is always best!) Leave us a comment to nominate your favorite vintage classic for a profile!
23 comments
Hello, I have the exact one in the black and white picture that’s an advertisement from the northwest cabinet company. I live in Boston so your theory of 1 in 5 homes might be correct. 🙂
I have a Governor Winthrop secretary desk and chair that I must sell, can anyone help me?
Joe, without knowing your location or the condition of the desk, in general people do very well selling on any of the online marketplaces. There are so many of them I won’t recommend a specific one, but I would suggest looking at the ones that are active in your area to see what kinds of products are being sold to find the one that would be a good fit for your desk. Good luck.
How do I open up the small door that is between the secret compartments?
Brittany, there is usually a small knob on the door to pull it open. I would suggest using something like a letter opener to see if you can gently open it, then add something you can use as a handle.
I have a similar problem. That little door has a knob, but it cannot be pulled open. There is not a latch, as a paper slides easily in the crack. As a child, I remember there was a “secret” to opening it. My parents are long gone and I cannot get it open.
I have a Governor Winthrop desk with the claw feet, it is in a cherry or red mahogany finish. What is the value of the piece?
Hi Peggy, Alas, we are not appraisers. The value of your desk is determined by age, maker, condition and market demand. Those from the early 1900s are not as valuable as older antiques. Here in New England there are lots of Gov. Winthrop’s, so they are less expensive than parts of the country where there aren’t as many. The best way to find out what your desk is worth is to check with a local auctioneer or consignment shop.
I have a Governor Winthrop desk with a hutch. I absolutely love it. I’m trying to figure out the date it was made. The two front legs are ball and claw, the back legs are straight and are a part of the back. I would also appreciate any tips on securing the compartments inside, they’re a bit wobbly. Thanks!
Pam
They are awesome desks. Ours has been through four generations of family. As for determining the age, a place to start is looking at the construction techniques. Does it look like it was made in a furniture factory or in a small workshop? Are there any labels on the back or makers marks? Although the style can be helpful in determining age, a lot of newer pieces copy the elements of older pieces. Good luck!
Any know where I can get the beautiful glass. Mine doesn’t have it anymore
The best place to start would be a local glazier. If you can pop the pins out of the hinges, you can bring the doors to a glass shop. Or perhaps check with a local antique shop to see if they have any antique sheets of glass a glazier could cut and install for you. Good luck!
I have one just like it totally original never redone and it’s in good shape I’m in Connecticut and would like to sell this any suggestions it’s exactly as in your picture
Do you know any companies that make new ones? I am sadly going to have to sell the one I have (it’s gotten musty and I have a really severe must allergy), but I want something similar in it’s place!
I have a Governor Winthrop desk (no hutch on top) that was my grandfathers and am wanting to restore. One of the inset hinges that support the fold down front is broken and I cannot find anything resembling it on line. Any ideas?
Sorry, I don’t have any specific suggestions for you, but there are several specialty hardware retailers on the internet. You might be able to query them to track some hardware down. Best of luck on your quest–restoring the desk is a worthy mission.
David, If you haven’t tried Van Dyke Hardware, it might be worth your time to give them a call. https://www.vandykes.com/ Their customer service people have been quite good in the past and it’s possible they might be able to help you. As Laurie said, restoring your grandfather’s desk is a very worthwhile endeavor.
Linda
Hi, how can I obtain key for Winthrop desk?
Thanks, robin
Robin, I wish there was a good answer for that. If the desk is open, yay! There are worse things in life than not being able to lock a desk. If the desk is locked, oh my. I would contact a local locksmith, explain the situation, and ask if they have a collection of keys you could try. Good luck!
If someone knows more about how to open the door between the two secret compartments, I would love some advice. The knob has come off the door. If I understood the mechanism, I might be able to figure out how to open
I too would like some hints about opening that little door. Thanks for any ideas
I just found what I think may be a governor Winthrop hutch (without the desk) at goodwill it has a stamp on the back saying winthrop and nov 445 above the stamp. I cannot find this anywhere on the internet? Two glass doors. anyone have any idea about this??
What a great find! Winthrop would be the design and Nov 445 is likely a date stamp. These desks were a trend and were made by hundreds of furniture companies small and large. If there’s no maker’s mark on the back of the hutch, it might have either been a paper label that fell off or it might have been on the desk itself. Makers often mark furniture on the inside of the top drawer of a piece of furniture. You probably don’t have enough info to find the maker, but you do have an awesome piece of furniture.