How do I clean the writing leather?

Dust the leather lightly with a soft cloth. A slightly damp cloth can lift light surface dirt. Dry the area immediately to prevent water damage. Keep polishes and waxes away from the writing surface. They leave a sticky residue that transfers onto your stationery.

I inherited my grandmother's old writing desk and I just want to know if I should fix the wobbly legs or just leave it alone?

You should have loose joints addressed by a professional restorer. A wobbly leg puts undue stress on the carcase. This can lead to serious structural failure if someone leans heavily on the desk. The repair process involves carefully dismantling the loose joint and removing the old animal hide glue. The restorer will then re-glue and clamp the joint to make the piece stable again.

What goes in the top section?

Small drawers held stationery supplies like nibs and stamps. Open pigeonholes kept current correspondence sorted. People often adapt these compartments today for storing keys.

There are some tiny holes in the back panels of the desk, does this mean it has woodworm and is it safe to bring indoors?

Flight holes indicate that woodworm was present at some point. You regularly see historical worm damage in the softer secondary woods like pine or deal used for backboards. Most old holes are inactive. Look for fine fresh sawdust around the holes to check for a live infestation. A restorer can treat the timber before it comes indoors if you are unsure.

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Antique Bonheur De Jour in South East

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A small French-style ladies' writing desk featuring a flat or hinged writing surface set before a stepped back with small drawers and pigeonholes, designed for dealing with correspondence.