38 inches wide, 40 inches high and 21 inches deep. Internal height of the drawers are: top 3 inches, middle 4 inches, base drawer 6 inches.
For metric, please multiply all dimensions by 2.5
The interior fitted with an arrangement of
shaped drawers including two concealed secret drawers and a deep well.
In superior condition for age, the veneers butterfly matched across the
fall and drawers and now having aged over the last 300 years to this
superb honey colour.
Mulberry is the name given to burr maple or
sycamore that was been carefully treated with "aqua fortis" (a weak acid
often containing dissolved precious and base metals which each gave a
different tincture to the wood). It produced this spectacular
"tortoiseshell" effect and had been in use since the early 1680s. The
London cabinet maker John Coxed and others used this process and then,
as now, mulberry furniture is extremely rare and of the finest quality.
The
drawers are all oak lined and original. All are very robust, all open
and close smoothly. There is a doubled moulding to the drawer frames,
around the fall and the well, and to the sides and top of the bureau and
a deep ovolu crossbanding around the base. Solid walnut high necked bun
feet and brasses have been replaced but many years ago, brasses are
smoothed with age, hand cast and have been on the bureau most of its
life. Minor marks and dings, a few veneer replacements and some light
restoration consistent with age and a well cared for family piece. Some
old worm as is to be expected but long since dead.
Original lock to fall and working key. Deep padded leather skiver of pale gold colour with gold tooled border.
With provenance from the estate sale of a longstanding private English
family collection, this is an outstanding and rare example.