Dimensions
This is astunning George II walnut bureau in excellent original condition and having a most attractive fitted interior of small drawers and pigeon holes and withsecret drawers flanking the central cupboard
Full Description
The top of the bureau and the fall and have thickly cut walnut veneers and the figuring to the walnut is very fluid and has been carefully cut and matched giving a waterfall effect across the fall and down the drawer fronts.
The top, fall, drawer fronts, inner drawers and inner door all have fine featherbanded borders - each tiny piece cut and inset by hand - it must have taken weeks to complete this delicate work.
The internal drawer arrangement typical of early Georgian bureaux with lovely shaped canopies to the pigeon holes. The secret drawers are oak lined and the small drawers are all oak lined also with tiny hand cut dovetails and walnut faces. All of the drawers open and close smoothly and have small brass button handles. There are no other handle marks and these do appear to be the originals.
Condition: minor dings, wear and marks consistent with age and use and no significant repairs, restoration or damage. An excellent rich colour and natural patina.
The escutcheons match, are hand cast brass with some wear. The large full drop brass handles are early replacements of good quality and correct in style. The four long graduated drawers are lined in quarter sawn oak with lapped dovetails and with pine drawer fronts dressed with thickly cut walnut. All the locks are present, top drawer lock is a later replacement. There is a working key for the fall and this closes and locks properly with no warp. The drawers are heavily lipped and constructed correctly for period.
The drawers all open and close smoothly and have clean interiors, strong joints and are robust and very useable. The sides of the bureau are dressed in bookmatched walnut and the backboards are original also. The bracket feet appear to be original but the very backs of the back feet have replacement face boards (where they go against the wall). Lopers are oak and pull out smoothly to support the fall, which rests level and flat when open. Really pleasing to find a 1730s interior so well preserved - often leather skivers were cut into the inside face of the fall to replace badly ink stained veneers or to keep up with 19th century fashion but here we just have the glory of these beautiful walnut veneers.
Of desirable small proportions at only 34 inches wide, this is a lovely English bureau dating from around 1730 and in very good condition indeed.
Dimensions are:
37 inches high, 34 inches wide at feet, 19 inches deep at feet and 10 inches deep at top.
With fall extended depth is 30 inches. Height from floor to lower edge of fall when extended is 28 inches.
Internal height of the drawers are top, 3 inches, second 3.5 inches, third 4 inches, last 5.5 inches
