Restoration advice for desk missing drawers  

If the desk were mine, I'd seek a talented local cabinetmaker to fashion new drawers. Degree of accuracy almost doesn't matter as much as fit and matching color/grain of teak. Make sure to clearly and permanently mark the new drawers indicating that they are NOT original to the desk.

the problem here is that you might find another complete desk for a lower price than asking a carpenter to make the drawers for you, unless you live in a country where people income is very low.

The situation is different if you absolutely want to keep this desk. It is nice to give life again to objects of this quality.

Out of curiosity, I would ask how much such job would cost in your area.

Cheers,

Ernest.

PS: I once found a chest of drawers with two missing legs. It would be nice to know the story behind these pieces.

30 miles from Boston, I'd have to guess 1,000 - $1,500US depending, again, on accuracy of construction details. We're lucky to have numerous skilled craftspersons concentrated in a relatively small geographic area, thus rates tend to be competitive.

Ernest + tktoo - thank you sincerely for your input. Tktoo, thank you specifically for the note about marking the drawers - I definitely try my best to be as transparent (and ethical) as possible in the dealing I've done, but I never considered that such a marking would hopefully help to prevent future sellers from duping someone.

Ernest - I am fortunate to know a lot of makers in the area (Toronto) and even more fortunate to have a brother skilled in furniture construction. I've been told I can have three basic drawer boxes made (solid wood, dovetail joinery) for $60 apiece, and my brother has offered to finish these with teak veneer + similarly sculpted teak pulls to those on the original. Accounting for labour and materials, it looks like I can have this done well under $500CAD, which seems to be a good price whether I ultimately decide to keep it or not. If it were a more run of the mill danish desk I might not go to the effort, but, given the particular notoriety of this design, it seems to be worth it.

I agree re: the story of these pieces, such a mystery. How does such a beautiful desk manage to be parted from its drawers??

$60 apiece! That wouldn't even cover materials around here!

Nice desk, BTW.

P.S. My brothers have benefited from the "family rate", too. What goes around comes around.

Definitely mark them as replacements, and yes, do it in as permanent way as possible. There are dealers who will go to great lengths to present things as all original, unfortunately.