When you acquire an antique desk remember the thing that gives it its value is the history that it represents. So find out what you can from the person or shop that you got it from because there might be a scratch or nick or other imperfection in it that actually adds to its value. Someone famous might have been the instigator or source of the imperfection and thus the story behind it is one of the things that gives your desk its value.
Next, placing your desk in your home or office is a very important long term consideration, different from, let’s say, simply buying a set of retro dining room chairs. Remember this is not just a desk, it’s an investment and showpiece. Thus you will want to keep it away from direct sunlight, not too near any fireplaces or in a direct draft or flow of air that will dry it out and shorten its life. You however also want to put it where it can be seen and appreciated and perhaps an offer made for it.
Obviously you need to perform some sort of maintenance every few months and that is best done using some sort of fine cotton cloth and citrus oil such as lemon oil. The lemon oil has the effect of collecting dirt and the fine cloth helps you feel your way around the curvature of the desk. Make sure you polish with the grain and do it slowly and lovingly. Once again get maintenance tips from the shop or person from which or whom you acquired it, such as any particular oils used that brought this thing of beauty this far.
Lastly while you are busy doing maintenance on your antique desk, look for some marks to identify it such as a date of manufacture, label of manufacturer or a craftsman’s signature or mark. If you see something unusual look it up on the Internet or some other source and see if you can find a desk similar to yours. You might find that you acquired much more than you thought and this could double or even triple the value of your antique desk. Ignorance has let many other treasures through its foolish fingers and there is no greater fool than he who thinks there is nothing left to learn. So always keep your eyes open and your curiosity in a childlike state.